Mike Zunino lone former Gators representative in 2020 World Series

Former Florida Gators standout Mike Zunino will be playing under the bright lights of the 2020 World Series with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tuesday night, the Tampa Bay Rays meet the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the 2020 World Series — the first-ever played at a neutral site. Instead of switching between Dodger Stadium and Tropicana Field this fall, the two will meet in the sanitized confines of Globe Life Field in Arlington, Tex., due to the coronavirus pandemic for the best-of-seven series.

It took a long and winding road for Major League Baseball to reach this finale, with many moments along the way when it appeared that the league might not make it through its contracted 60-game schedule. But here we are on Oct. 20 getting geared up for one of the most storied championships in professional sports.

Among the players participating in the paramount slate of games is former Florida Gator catcher Mike Zunino, who is making his first appearance in the Fall Classic this season as a member of the Rays. The eighth-year pro from Cape Coral spent the first six years of his career with the Seattle Mariners after being drafted third overall in the 2012 MLB draft, then was traded to Tampa Bay in the 2018 offseason where he has spent the last two campaigns.

Unfortunately, he will not get to play in the biggest games of his career at home in Florida this year due to COVID-19.

Zunino’s career is characterized by his superlative play behind the plate and a bat that — while leaves a lot to be desired in the average column even at a typically defense-first position  — has some significant power, leading to his longevity in the league. Speaking of power, he has been on quite a tear this postseason, helping the Rays reach Arlington with his heroics.

Back in college, Zunino was the first Gators catcher to be voted as a first-team All-American twice, batting .327 in 193 total games — including 188 starts — over his three-year tenure in Gainesville. He finished his UF career ranked fourth on the school’s all-time list in both doubles and homers while also occupying the sixth spot in slugging percentage and RBI, and placing seventh in total bases.

After reaching the majors, Zunino had his best years from 2017 to 2018 with the Mariners, earning the Wilson American League Defensive Player of the Year Award in the latter season. His role in Tampa since has been more of a platoon variety, appearing in 90 games last season and in 28 of the Rays’ 60 games this year. Nonetheless, his contributions have paid off in the form of the first postseason appearance of his professional career.

Unfortunately, Zunino is the only former Florida Gators alumnus on either World Series roster entering Tuesday. Hopefully, the veteran catcher can make the Gator Nation proud with his performance on the biggest stage MLB has to offer.

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