The 2023 MLB draft is just a few days away, and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel is digging deeper and deeper into the talent pool as the event nears.
In McDaniel’s latest mock draft, the 3.0 he calls it, four Gators are projected to go on Day 1, which is 70 picks in total (six competitive balance picks and three compensatory picks). Naturally, Wyatt Langford and Hurston Waldrep are first-rounders, but Brandon Sproat and Josh Rivera are also expected to hear their names called on Sunday night.
Langford is projected to come off the board third overall to Detroit, which is where most mocks have him going. That’s not too surprising, but McDaniel has Detroit going back to the well of Gators players for Brandon Sproat in the second round with the 45th overall pick.
Sproat to Detroit makes as much sense as the Langford pick. The Tigers need elite college-level talent that can progress quickly, and adding the Friday night starter and best hitter from the runner-ups at the College World Series provides exactly that.
The former Gators ace is the perfect candidate to get the Chris Fetter treatment. Detroit’s pitching coach has already worked with the like of Alex Faedo, and Sproat’s issue is his fastball, not the changeup or slider.
Hurston Waldrep is the other projected first-rounder out of Florida. He’s cemented himself as a top-20 pick and will likely come off the board before that. McDaniel thinks Arizona at No. 12 makes the most sense, but the Diamondbacks can be a bit mysterious.
Josh Rivera is the final Gator projected as a first-day draft guy by McDaniel, who has him headed to Tampa at No. 55 overall. Rivera might be the most talented shortstop in the class, but coming back for an extra year will hurt his financial value.
That said, a team like Tampa could be looking for a discount in the second round to spend elsewhere. If so, Rivera is their guy.
Only one of Florida’s 2023 signees is projected to be drafted on Sunday. New Jersey native Steven Echavarria has emerged as a fringe first-round candidate, which means it’s not very likely he’ll ever where the Orange and Blue.
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