Category: Gators in MLB

Former Gator Pete Alonso making history in New York

Another day, another Mets record broken by former Gator Pete Alonso. The Polar Bear is looking like one of the National League’s best power hitters down the stretch.

As the 2022 MLB regular season draws to a close, former Gator [autotag]Pete Alonso[/autotag] continues to re-write the New York Mets’ record books. On Monday, he broke the Mets’ single-season record for runs batted in with 131, a league-leading figure.

“It’s a huge honor,” Alonso said following the game, according to The Athletic. “I wouldn’t be able to be in this position without my teammates. All year, they’ve been putting together unbelievable at-bats.”

Alonso also became the first Met to have two 40-home run seasons with the franchise. He sent No. 40 over the left-field wall on Tuesday, putting him just two shy of the National League lead. There’s little hope for Alonso to catch up to Aaron Judge’s major-league leading 61 homers, but a hot streak to end the season could help bring back both MVP awards to New York.

Alonso’s making a serious case for himself as one of the best hitters in all of baseball. His .270 average could use a little work, but he’s always on when the team needs him. With runners in scoring position, Alonso is slashing .302/.420/.679. His 1.100 OPS is fifth in all of baseball.

Even if he doesn’t win the award, Alonso’s season will go down as one of the best in Mets history. It’s a game of scoring runs, and there’s no one better right now than Pete Alonso at driving runners in.

[mm-video type=video id=01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg-c640babe687004c896ec7a3af514c1b9.jpg]

[listicle id=92532]

[listicle id=87497]

[listicle id=85639]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

This former Gator to play for Team USA in 2023 World Baseball Classic

Former Gator and current New York Met Pete Alonso will represent the United States in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

New York Mets first baseman and former Florida Gator [autotag]Pete Alonso[/autotag] committed to playing for Team USA in the 2023 [autotag]World Baseball Classic[/autotag] on August 17, according to MLB.com.

Alonso is in the middle of a career year at the plate as the Mets surge toward the playoffs as the likely winner of the NL East. He’s tied for fourth in the majors in home runs with 31 and is tied for third in runs batted in with 105. Those numbers rival his 2019 stats when he won Rookie of the Year, and he’s certainly among the best power hitters in all of baseball.

“I’m really excited. It’s an honor to be a part of Team USA,” Alonso said. “There’s a lot of really amazing guys on the team so far. It’s a great opportunity, and I just feel lucky to be a part of it. … It’s an incredibly fun event. I’ve always wanted to play in it. It’s an honor to play for the stars and stripes.”

Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. will be the team’s hitting coach during the international event, and that should only help Alonso improve as a hitter. Team USA is loading up on talent, and pitting All-Star teams against each other for two weeks is a good way to help re-popularize the game.

Alonso driving in Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Bryce Harper is the kind of thing you typically only see in MLB: The Show gameplay, so baseball fans are in for a treat.

[mm-video type=video id=01gbdxn8k0vm485s9aqy playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gbdxn8k0vm485s9aqy/01gbdxn8k0vm485s9aqy-ff4ef5bf9c3bbe9c582367070cb67b66.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=87946,86951,88300,87795,87221]

[listicle id=90660]

[listicle id=90570]

[listicle id=90345]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Pete Alonso’s 10 steps to winning a Home Run Derby, via Jeff Passan

Former Florida Gator and current New York Met Pete Alonso reveals to ESPN’s Jeff Passan his 10 steps to winning the derby.

New York Mets first baseman [autotag]Pete Alonso[/autotag] will look to become the first player in history to win three consecutive home run derby events.

Alonso is just the third player in MLB history to win back-to-back Home Run Derby events after taking home the 2019 and 2021 trophies; the 2020 derby was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yoenis Cespedes (2013 & 2014) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1994, 1998 & 1999) are the only other players since the event’s inception in 1985 to win back-to-back events.

Alonso will take on Braves’ right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in the first round of this year’s tournament in a battle of NL East foes. Alonso recently sat down with ESPN’s Jeff Passan and revealed to him the 10-step plan he has to winning the derby. The comments after each rule come from yours truly.

  1. Hydrate Like Crazy
    1. It seems like an obvious one but when you’re out there swinging a bat 200 times, hydrating might seem like a good idea.
  2. Get Moral Support
    1. Part of the fun of the HR derby is seeing the competitors and their support groups hanging around in front of the dugouts.
  3. The Opponent Doesn’t Matter
    1. If you think about it, you’re really only competing with yourself.
  4. Find the Right Pitcher
    1. Every kid grows up wanting to have his dad throw him baseballs at the HR derby.
  5. Know Your Zone
    1. The benefit of having a good pitcher is that they know exactly where to throw the ball. You want to highlight your positives and hide your negatives.
  6. Stick to Your Swing
    1. Routine. Routine. Routine.
  7. Use your Timeouts Smartly
    1. You want to make sure that you’re as fresh as possible throughout the round.
  8. Let Your Emotions Out
    1. It’s important to take everything in, but it’s also important to stay focused so you can do your best.
  9. Hit Tanks
    1. Like Uncle Rico, but with a baseball bat.
  10. Have A Blast
    1. What is an exhibition mid-summer tradition if it’s not fun?

[mm-video type=video id=01g897h1nbcxv8h31gbt playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g897h1nbcxv8h31gbt/01g897h1nbcxv8h31gbt-db7df85b5beea417fc313e6da5e87d36.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=87791,87745,87736,87713]

[listicle id=87756]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Former Gator Pete Alonso will to compete in Home Run Derby, MLB All-Star Game

Pete “Polar Bear” Alonso will compete for his third-straight Home Run Derby crown while also playing in the All-Star Game.

Former Florida Gator and current Mets first baseman [autotag]Pete Alonso[/autotag] will defend his Home Run Derby crown and participate in MLB’s All-Star Game next week in Los Angeles.

Alonso is just the third player in MLB history to win back-to-back Home Run Derby events after taking home the 2019 and 2021 trophies; the 2020 derby was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yoenis Cespedes (2013 & 2014) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1994, 1998 & 1999) are the only other players since the event’s inception in 1985 to win back-to-back events.

Griffey Jr. is the event’s only three-time winner in the event’s history and Alonso is looking to join him as the only three-time champ. If the former Gator wins this year’s event, he would become the first person to win three derbys in a row. The full list of participants will be revealed closer to Monday, July 18th, the date of this year’s event.

Along with attempting to make history, Alonso will also participate in MLB’s All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 19. He joins Mets teammates Edwin Diaz, Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil as All-Star Games reserves. Alonso is the only former Gator to be named to MLB’s All-Star Game.

[mm-video type=video id=01g6n71ys2gkjcdzct05 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g6n71ys2gkjcdzct05/01g6n71ys2gkjcdzct05-ecf0705d088dc45bc00b54b1db81948e.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=86951,86490,86473]

[vertical-gallery id=46918]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Former Gator Alex Faedo to make MLB debut with Detroit on Wednesday

The former Gator gets his first taste of Major League Baseball on Wednesday in the second leg of a doubleheader.

The big day has finally arrived for former Gator [autotag]Alex Faedo[/autotag], one of the cornerstones of the formidable pitching staff on the 2017 national championship team that now features several players in the major leagues. On Wednesday, he will toe the rubber and make the start for the Detroit Tigers in the second game of a straight doubleheader at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking his first time in the big show.

Faedo’s history with the Motor City Kitties actually starts before he won his ring when Detroit selected him with the final pick of the 2014 MLB draft — back when it was 40 rounds long. Obviously, he attended Florida instead and the rest is history, getting picked again in the draft by the Tigers, but the second time in 2017 as a first-round selection with the 18th overall pick.

The right-hander bounced around a bit in the minors for a few years, dealing with fitness issues as well as struggling to align his mechanics. Faedo lost the 2020 season to COVID when he caught the virus and in December of that year ended up having Tommy John surgery which shut him down in 2021. He made his 2022 season debut with Single-A Lakeland on April 9 and helped his team earn a 5-1 win over Tampa, allowing one hit, no walks and striking out two over 28 pitches in his first competitive outing in 951 days.

Since returning from reconstructive surgery, Faedo has appeared in four games — three in Lakeland and one with Triple-A Toledo, with two of them starts — putting up a 1.72 ERA and an 0.83 WHIP over 15 2/3 innings pitched. The Tigers are dealing with attrition at the pitching position and the 26-year-old’s stint with the big league team is expected to be a brief fill-in role, with him returning to Toledo after the game.

The first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. EDT with Faedo’s start coming immediately afterward. Both games can be watched on ATT SportsNet-PIT and Bally Sports Detroit.

[mm-video type=video id=01fzg829333ttggs4h1t playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fzg829333ttggs4h1t/01fzg829333ttggs4h1t-ed6373e261a118f8da445b70ff59496b.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=83345]

[listicle id=81293]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

A look at all ten former Gators on MLB opening day 2022 rosters

Here are all of the Gators who made it past the final cut to start the 2022 campaign.

Major League Baseball returns after a lockout that had many fans wondering if there would even be a 2022 season. Now that the owners and the players union have come to an agreement, it is game-on for the boys of summer after an abbreviated spring training.

Heading into the new season, the University of Florida currently has ten former Gators gracing the opening day rosters of several major league teams. Almost all of the names are recognizable from the school’s 2017 national championship squad, while a couple of older players are still chasing their baseball dreams.

Below, you can find all ten former Florida Gators baseball players who made the 2022 opening day roster for their respective MLB franchises.

This former Gator named NL Rookie of the Year

Jonathan India is the National League Rookie of the Year and is the second Gator in three years to win the award.

For the second time in three years, a former Florida Gator has won the Jackie Robinson National League Rookie of the Year Award. Second baseman Jonathan India received 29 of 30 first-place votes and became the eighth Cincinnati Red to take home the award.

India led all rookies with 98 runs, 34 doubles, 57 extra-base hits, a .376 on-base percentage and a .835 OPS. He also led NL rookies with 69 RBI, 143 hits, 21 home runs and 12 stolen bases. He became the frontrunner for the award in the second half of the season when Miami pitcher Trevor Rogers took time away from baseball to tend to a family emergency. St. Louis’ Dylan Carlson came in third place but he failed to steal a single vote from India.

Although the Reds came up short of the playoffs, Cincinnati finished third in the wild card race. After securing his Rookie of the Year Award, India will look to help the Reds take that next step forward in 2022 and make the playoffs with him as an established starter.

India knows what it takes to win a championship, too. In 2017, he helped lead the Gators to their first-ever NCAA Championship. He left Florida as one of the greatest to ever wear the orange and blue on the diamond after being selected fifth overall in the draft by the Reds.

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, the last Gator to take home the NL Rookie of the Year Award, congratulated his former teammate on Instagram.

“Congratulation to my former college teammate (Jonathan India) on winning the ’21 NL ROY,” Alonso wrote. “Such an unreal honor. Many more accolades to come your way my man.”

[lawrence-related id=46890]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Former Gator Jonathan India named MLB’s 2021 Rookie of the year by Baseball America

Former UF infielder Jonathan India had a fantastic first campaign with the Cincinnati Reds.

Florida’s baseball program has been arguably the most consistent over the course of the last decade, and with the team constantly recruiting at an elite level, it’s no surprise that it puts good players into the major leagues with regularity.

The latest of these is Jonathan India, who played at Florida 2016-18. India was dominant in college, being named the 2018 SEC Player of the Year and a First Team All-American by several outlets. He was projected to be one of the top players selected in the 2018 MLB draft, and indeed, the Cincinnati Reds took him fifth overall.

India made his debut for the Reds in 2021, and he had a spectacular season. For his efforts, he’s been named Baseball America’s Rookie of the Year.

India appeared in 150 games for Cincinnati, playing mostly at second base and earning a .269 batting average with 21 home runs and 69 RBI. He had 36 extra-base hits on the season, 34 of which were doubles.

It took India a couple of years to reach the sport’s pinnacle, as he spent the last two seasons in the minor leagues. But his major league career is off to a phenomenal start, and he could be the latest Gators player to make a big impact in MLB.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Former Gators infielder Jonathan India garnering HOF comparisons as a rookie

Cincinnati hasn’t seen production from a rookie like this in 65 years.

Former Gators infielder Jonathan India is having a historic rookie year for the Cincinnati Reds. With 96 runs and 56 extra-base hits, he becomes the first Reds rookie since Hall of Famer Frank Robinson to reach both marks in 1956, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Robinson was named National League Rookie of the Year unanimously that year, and India is the favorite to take home the award this 65 years later.

If the comparison to Robinson is any indication, India should be a fixture in Cincinnati’s lineup for a long time. Robinson stayed in the MVP conversation for the next 17 years, and Reds first baseman Joey Votto has all but said he expects India to be in the race someday.

Votto is also careful not to put too much pressure on India, who is just 24 years old and three years removed from playing for the Gators. In 2018, India had one of the best offensive seasons in Florida baseball history and was named SEC Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American.

India’s transition to the major league level has come fairly quickly, and the Reds’ decision to start a rookie at second base for the first time since Pete Rose seems to be working out. India has a .271 average, 33 doubles and 21 home runs with four games left in Cincinnati’s season.

The only thing working against India is the Reds missing the playoffs, but he should become the second former Gator to win the NL Rookie of the Year in the past three years.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Former Gator infielder leads NL Rookie of the Year conversation

Jonathan India is having the rookie season everyone dreams of as a kid. Will he be this year’s NL Rookie of the Year?

Former Florida Gator Jonathan India is having the rookie year most players only ever dream of. Not only will he attempt to help his team reach the playoffs, but India is in a great position to finish the year as the National League’s Rookie of the Year.

India made his debut for the Cincinnati Reds on Opening Day with a double and never looked back. The 24-year-old infielder earned his call-up following an incredible spring training performance and he’s proved the organization right with a Rookie of the Month Award in July.

The Rookie of the Year race in the NL has been between India and Miami’s Trevor Rogers for most of the year. With an fWAR of 3.3, India leads all rookies and appears to have taken the edge over Rogers, who’s been out since July 31 tending to a family emergency.

Being part of a playoff team is always an accolade to consider in awards voting and it’s made the difference for Rookie of the Year in the past. So, if Cincinnati can pass San Diego for the second wildcard spot, it could mean everything for India’s bid. Two games back of the Padres and with India slashing .296/.412/.514 in the leadoff spot, the Reds should at least come close.

India would be the second former Gator to win the NL Rookie of the Year after Pete Alonso won it in 2019. He won a College World Series with Florida back in 2017 and won the SEC Baseball Player of the Year award as a junior the following year. The Reds selected him fifth overall in the 2018 MLB draft.

[lawrence-related id=48167,47979,47963,47654,46995]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.