Tag: Jonathan India

Former Gators India, Singer traded for each other at MLB non-tender deadline

Not one but two former Florida baseball stars were traded at the MLB non-tender deadline, and they were swapped in the same deal!

Former Florida Gators baseball stars [autotag]Jonathan India[/autotag] and [autotag]Brady Singer[/autotag] swapped teams in a trade between the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals on Friday, MLB’s non-tender deadline.

Both teams could benefit from the trade, according to Keith Law of The Athletic.

India, a middle infielder likely to stay at second base with Kansas City, fell out of favor in Cincinnati thanks to a surplus of talented position players.

He’s a former National League Rookie of the Year drafted fifth overall in 2018 who plays average defense and can get on base more than other infielders on the Royals’ roster. India posted his highest fWAR (2.8) since his rookie year breakout (3.4) and slashed .248/.357/.392 over 151 games.

Singer, the 18th pick in the 2018 draft, has posted steady numbers over hid five-year MLB career. His best season came in 2022 when he finished the season with 3.0 fWAR, a 3.23 ERA and an 8.8 K/9 rate. Similar to India, Singer had his second-best MLB season in 2024 — 2.5 fWAR, 3.71 ERA and a career-high 179 2/3 innings — but Kansas City has a lot of pitching talent in its organization.

With Singer offering the most trade value of any Royal brought up in conversations, it was a no-brainer to deal him at the non-tender deadline, even if it is losing a potential ace who is only 27 years old. The only problem with Singer is that his low arm slot from the right side doesn’t allow him to throw an effective offspeed pitch to attack lefties, who slashed .291/.367/.488 off him in 2024.

India, Singer at Florida

Not only were India and Singer drafted 13 picks apart after spending three years together at Florida and winning a College World Series, they were named the SEC Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.

Singer also won the 2018 Dick Howser Trophy and was named the National Player of the Year by Baseball Americana and D1Baseball. He left Florida with a 23-10 record over 60 appearances (37 starts, 282 innings), a 3.22 ERA, 281 strikeouts (seventh all time), and four complete games.

India was a consensus First Team All-American at third base for Florida and semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award. He capped off his three-year Gators career with one of the best offensive seasons in program history, slashing .350/.497/.717 with 21 home runs — the most by any Gators third baseman — and 53 RBIs.

Over 194 games (189 starts) as a Gator, India slashed .310/.411/.530 with 31 homers and 126 RBIs. He walked 105 times to 141 strikeouts.

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Former Gator INF Jonathan India could be traded by Cincinnati

It’s hard to imagine trading a Rookie of the Year just two years after he wins the award, but Cincinnati has enough young infield talent to market the former Gator.

Former Florida infielder [autotag]Jonathan India[/autotag] won the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year as a Cincinnati Red, but he could be wearing a different uniform less than two years later.

MLB.com executive reporter Mark Feinsand tweeted (X’d?) that the Reds were open to trading India due to an abundance of young infielders on Monday. India failed to follow up on his stellar rookie year last season, finishing the 2022 season with a 0.4 WAR after 103 games, but he’s bounced back nicely in 2023 and should be an attractive trade piece.

Through 101 games, India already has a 1.2 WAR and is striking out at a career-low rate. His power numbers are up a bit. He’s on pace for 20 homers and just under 100 runs batted in.

When it comes to possible landing spots, two AL East teams seem to be the popular choice among fans. Baltimore could use a young, controllable option at second base with 31-year-old Adam Frazier’s contract set to expire at the end of the year, and India still has three arbitration years left.

The return will need to be decent, though. The Reds want young and controllable pitchers in exchange for their primary second baseman. Otherwise, it’s unlikely that he’s dealt.

India responded to the trade rumors on Tuesday.

“I talked to people in the organization saying it’s just a rumor,” India said to Cincinnati.com. “At the end of the day, it’s out there for a reason.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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WATCH: Former Gator Jonathan India smacks a double in MLB debut

India hit an 82 mph slider down the left-field line into the corner to notch an extra-base hit in his second career MLB plate appearance.

Major League Baseball’s opening day has arrived and currently there are nine former Florida Gators on big league rosters heading into the 2021 schedule — albeit, with one on the injured list for the next month or so. Of those players, there is an infielder who played a major role on UF’s 2017 national championship squad who made his MLB debut on Thursday and started his career with a bang.

Jonathan India got the start at second base for the Cincinnati Reds against the St. Louis Cardinals after a torrid spring training performance that earned him the trip north. He struck out in his first at-bat against Jack Flaherty but his second time up, he proved why the Reds were wise to put him on the field for the first game of the season.

On a 2-2 pitch, India hit an 82 mph slider down the left-field line into the corner for a double in his second career MLB plate appearance. Here is a look at his first career (extra-base) hit.

He put up some eye-popping numbers in spring training, which earned him the opening day call-up and he can be expected to continue producing as the year wears on. Congrats to Jonathan from the Gator Nation!

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Here’s a look at all nine former Florida Gators included on MLB opening day rosters

A look at all nine former Florida Gators baseball players who were included on their respective teams’ MLB roster for opening day 2021.

Major League Baseball’s opening day is here and this time around it looks like the boys of summer will play out their full schedule, COVID allowing. As such, it is time to take a look at our beloved Florida Gators alumni competing in the world’s greatest collection of baseball players.

Kicking off 2021, UF has nine former players listed on MLB opening day rosters, though one alumnus finds himself on the injured list to start the season. The other eight include a home run champion, a few grizzled veterans, a highly-touted pitcher and a member of the national championship making his major league debut.

Below, you can find all nine former Florida Gators baseball players who made the 2021 opening day roster for their respective teams.