A pair of Florida Gators had their name called during the first round of the MLB Draft Sunday evening. OF Wyatt Langford was selected No. 4 overall by the Texas Rangers while RHP Hurston Waldrep was taken by the Atlanta Braves with the No. 24 overall selection.
The University of Florida has now produced 217 draft picks, with 101 of those since head coach Kevin O’Sullivan took over in 2008. The Gators’ skipper has seen thirteen of his players selected in the first round since his arrival in Gainesville.
With the fourth pick in the 2023 #MLBDraft, the @Rangers select OF Wyatt Langford from Florida. pic.twitter.com/iDLayj3n6U
— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2023
Langford, a junior from Trenton, FL, completed his collegiate career with a .373 batting average to go along with 21 home runs and 57 RBI and an OPS of 1.282 in 2023 and led his team to the College World Series Finals last month. Langford also stole nine based in ten attempts.
In 2022, Langford burst onto the scene by crushing 26 homers and accumulating 63 RBI. He did so while maintaining a .356 batting average and leading off for much of the year.
As a freshman, Langford made four plate appearances after arriving to UF primarily as a catcher. Florida Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan often gushes over the way Langford changed his body and became a true outfielder.
With the 24th pick, the @Braves select @GatorsBB right-handed pitcher Hurston Waldrep, No. 19 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list.
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) July 10, 2023
Watch live: https://t.co/1s1j9XMnG5 pic.twitter.com/i4An3WOTUn
Waldrep, a junior, transferred to Florida following a (third team) All-American season at Southern Miss in 2022.
In 2023, the Thomasville, GA native finished the season 10-3 with a 4.16 ERA across 19 starts with the Gators. In 101.2 innings of work he struck out 156 batters.
Waldrep has a menacing split-change that forced a swing and miss rate of 63% in 2023. His fastball runs 93-96 but can reach as high as 99.
Rounds three to ten of the MLB Draft will commence Monday at 2:00 PM. RHP Brandon Sproat and SS Josh Rivera are candidates to be selected in the second to tenth round range.