The San Francisco Giants selected Florida right-handed redshirt junior [autotag]Ryan Slater[/autotag] in the 18th round of the 2024 MLB draft on Tuesday.
He is the 224th individual selection in program history and the 109th selection of the [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag] era.
Slater leaves Florida with a 22-7 record and eight saves. He managed a 5.35 ERA and .260 batting average against over 166 2/3 innings and struck out 140 batters to 61 walks.
Slater was one of a few veteran arms in Florida’s bullpen this season, and he started off as perhaps the most trusted relief arm in Gainesville. Opposing bats started to figure him out as the season went on, though, and his ERA ballooned to a career-high 6.70, while batters averaged .302 off of him.
Fortunately, Slater made a name for himself in 2023, both with the Gators and over the summer in the Cape Cod League. The Giants had a trend of drafting arms that excelled in the Cape.
Slater is the last rostered Gator to be drafted and is likely to leave the program. Florida also saw Jac Caglianone, Brandon Neely and Fisher Jameson drafted over the first two days. Colby Shelton was picked in the 20th round, but it’s a Hail Mary shot from the Washington Nationals.
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