On Monday, a total of four University of Florida players were taken during the first 11 rounds of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft.
The first Gator off the board was junior shortstop Colby Shelton, who was selected 166th overall in the sixth round by the Chicago White Sox.
Shelton (6’, 205), who the Washington Nationals previously selected in the 20th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, holds status as the eighth-highest UF shortstop to be drafted all-time as well as the 111th pick of the Kevin O’Sullivan era.
According to Baseball America, “Shelton is a physical lefthanded hitting shortstop who has been consistent power-producers in two seasons in the SEC.”
The Lexington, South Carolina, native set the Alabama freshman single-season home run record with 25, a total that tied for the third-most in Crimson Tide single-season history.
Shelton, who hit 20 home runs in his next season in the Orange and Blue, started all 66 games for UF at shortstop as a sophomore after playing at third base for the Crimson Tide. He made just six errors the entire season across 234 defensive chances, finishing with a .974 fielding percentage, 163 assists and 26 double plays.
He had a career year at the plate as a junior this past season, reaching base in 44 of 45 games before suffering a season-ending hamate injury.
Shelton hit .377/.458/.606 with a 1.064 OPS across 175 at-bats with seven home runs, 19 doubles, 40 runs, 35 RBI and six stolen bases while starting every game at shortstop prior to his injury.
As a Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist for the nation’s top shortstop, Shelton recorded 23 multi-hit games despite seeing limited action.
In 111 games at UF, he batted .304/.407/.573, with 131 hits, 27 home runs, 33 doubles, 100 runs scored and 91 RBI in 431 at bats as a Gator.
Adding in his freshman numbers from Alabama, Shelton compiled 52 career home runs, 43 doubles, 149 runs scored and 142 RBI in three seasons.
What They’re Saying About Shelton
D1Baseball
“Shelton has shown incredible aptitude to reduce his strikeouts by flattening his swing (2024 avg launch angle = 17.5 degrees) which has allowed him to lower his strikeout rate from a whopping 26.4% last season. However, he may have over-adjusted as his home run totals and his fly ball rate have been reduced 46.2% to 35.1% this spring. With that said, he should have little trouble finding a happy medium once in pro ball. Look for Shelton’s value to continue to ascend into draft day where college shortstops fly off the board due to their low-risk nature and likelihood of developing into valuable pieces on a major league roster. Despite his age, he’s a top 50 overall pick.”
MLB Pipeline
“A left-handed hitter, Shelton’s offensive profile was previously all about his power, with a swing that was steep in the zone. With that pop came considerable swing-and-miss, with Shelton producing a 25.6 percent strikeout rate over his first two collegiate seasons (a 12.2 percent walk rate helped offset that some). This year, Shelton’s been much more hitterish with better rhythm. Using a narrower stance with higher hands, he’s become a much better hitter overall, focusing on left-center and picking his spots to pull and elevate, sacrificing power numbers as a result. Whether Shelton is a power hitter, or a hitter with some power, it’s his bat that will get him drafted and carry him up an organizational ladder…”
Two other Gators were drafted on Monday in the seventh round.
The Miami Marlins selected right-handed pitcher Jake Clemente with the 198th overall pick of the seventh round, followed by the Chicago Cubs’ choice of southpaw Pierce Coppola with the 211th pick of the seventh round.
This is the first-career draft selection for both Clemente and Coppola, who effectively become the 63rd and 64th pitchers to be drafted under O’Sullivan, equating to 3.6 arms selected per year across 18 seasons.
Additionally, Clemente marks the 227th individual draft pick in program history and the 112th total selection of the O’Sullivan era. Coppola raises those totals to 228 individual selections, 113 of which have come under O’Sullivan.
Perhaps the most impactful player in Florida’s unprecedented 2025 turnaround, Clemente transitioned from the weekend rotation into the closer role midseason and thrived. Logging all seven of his saves in the final 27 games, Clemente registered a team-low 1.33 ERA and .173 batting average against on top of a 39-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 27 innings in that span. That propelled him to a 3.46 ERA, .181 BAA and 77-to-25 K-to-BB ratio across 54 2/3 frames on the season – earning him Second Team All-SEC honors.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas product appeared in 40 games highlighted by seven starts in his UF career from 2024-25 for a total of 83 1/3 innings pitched. Clemente worked to a 4-1 record, 4.10 ERA, .200 BAA and 116-to-45 K-to-BB ratio during his time in Orange & Blue.
Producing his best body of work to date in 2025, Coppola made seven weekend starts to amass 21 1/3 innings pitched. The tall left-hander turned in stellar marks across the board, as evidenced by a 3-1 record, 2.53 ERA, .158 batting average against and 43-to-nine strikeout-to-walk ratio while alloying just one long ball all year.
With 85 strikeouts in 49 1/3 career innings pitched, Coppola’s 15.51 strikeouts per nine is the highest in program history. Coppola also held opposing hitters to a .235 batting average in his career. Perhaps most impressively, all 16 of his collegiate pitching appearances came in the form of weekend starts in Orange & Blue.
What They’re Saying About Clemente
MLB Pipeline
“A 6-foot-3 right-hander, Clemente checks off a lot of boxes in terms of size and power stuff. He has more than enough fastball, averaging close to 95 mph and touching 98-99 mph this year in shorter stints, missing a good amount of bats with his lively heater. He backs it up with a mid-80s slider that has more downer action and can be an effective secondary offering. In the past, he has shown some feel for a changeup, but it’s largely gathered dust on the shelf this spring.”
Baseball America
“The 6-foot-3, 220-pound righthander has a big fastball and knows it. He sat at 95 mph with the pitch and ran it up to 99 in 2025. The offering generated ample ride through the top of the zone and bowling-ball sink down, which helped him post a 45.5% ground ball rate. Clemente also mixed in a mid-80s slider with some tilt that he occasionally threw hard to give it some cutter shape. He introduced a mid-80s curveball to his repertoire in 2025, too, and drew 33% whiff and 30% chase rates with it. Clemente will need to make considerable strides with his control to profile as a starter but his bat-missing ability, high-octane velocity and feel for three pitches could allow him to quickly thrive in a professional bullpen.”
What They’re Saying About Coppola
Baseball America
“He’s a 6-foot-8, 240-pound lefthander who sits in the low 90s and touches 96 with a low-80s short-breaking slider as his go-to secondary. Coppola will also mix in a mid-80s changeup…”
Infielder Bobby Boser became the fourth Gator player to be drafted when he was selected by the Athletics with the 320th overall pick in the 11th round.
As the lone Gator to start all 61 games this past season, Boser led Florida in at bats (238), hits (80), runs (72), RBI (67), total bases (146), home runs (18), stolen bases (19) and on-base percentage (.437). Finishing with a robust .336/.437/.613 batting line, Boser nearly became the second 20-homer/20-steal player in program history (Brad Wilkerson, 1998). His 21 multi-RBI games equated to over one-third of UF’s contests while his six three-hit showings and 25 multi-hit games also paced the squad.
The UF third baseman took home All-SEC Defensive Team honors while ranking top-10 in the SEC in runs (second), steals (fourth), RBI (sixth), hits (eighth), at bats (eighth) and total bases (eighth) during the regular season. Boser’s elite contributions on both sides of the ball earned him Third Team All-America honors from Baseball America.
What They’re Saying About Boser
MLB Pipeline
“A strong, right-handed hitter, Boser has always shown a propensity for doing damage. There’s strength and bat speed with good balance at the plate. There’s also plenty of power for him to tap into, and he’s shown the ability to drive the ball for extra bases and out of the park to all fields… Boser gets very high marks for his makeup, and he worked hard to improve his athleticism, running speed and defensive ability to make him a more viable all-around prospect. He has the ability to play three infield positions capably, and some think he’s the best shortstop on the Gators, though he’s played more third than anywhere else this season. A team taking him could send him out at short, but he could develop into a regular at the hot corner or second, with a floor as a productive super-utility type.”
Baseball America
“Boser has played every position except catcher and pitcher in his four years in college. After spending three seasons with South Florida, Boser transferred to Florida for his 2025 senior season. He slashed .336/.437/.613 with 18 home runs and was the only Gator to play each of the team’s 61 games. Boser can also lay claim to multiple solid offensive seasons in the Cape Cod League, first in 2023 and second in 2024.Listed at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, Boser uses an open setup at the plate and hits the ball hard. He showed an ability to homer to all fields in the SEC and has been a consistent double-digit home run hitter since his 2023 sophomore season in college…”
Florida has now produced at least four MLB Draft picks in 16 of the last 17 years, only failing to do so in the COVID-shortened, five-round draft in 2020.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include Bobby Boser becoming the fourth Gator drafted in the 11th Round by the Athletics.
Florida’s MLB Draft History Under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan (114)
2025: 3B Bobby Boser – Round – Round 11, Pick 320 (Athletics)
2025: LHP Pierce Coppola – Round 7 – Pick 211 (Chicago Cubs)
2025: RHP Jake Clemente – Round 7 – Pick 198 (Miami Marlins)
2025: SS Colby Shelton – Round 6, Pick 166 (Chicago White Sox)
2024: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone – Round 1, Pick 6 (Kansas City Royals)
2024: RHP Brandon Neely – Round 3, Pick 86 (Boston Red Sox)
2024: RHP Fisher Jameson – Round 10, Pick 288 (Colorado Rockies)
2024: RHP Ryan Slater– Round 18, Pick 538 (San Francisco Giants)
2024: SS Colby Shelton– Round 20, Pick 590 (Washington Nationals)
2023: INF Colby Halter – Round 17, Pick 496 (Oakland Athletics)
2023: LHP Philip Abner – Round 6, Pick 175 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2023: SS Josh Rivera – Round 3, Pick 81 (Chicago Cubs)
2023: RHP Brandon Sproat – Round 2, Pick 56 (New York Mets)
2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
2023: OF Wyatt Langford – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
2022: OF Sterlin Thompson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Colorado Rockies)
2022: LHP Hunter Barco – Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2022: OF Jud Fabian – Round 2, Pick 67 (Baltimore Orioles)
2022: RHP Brandon Sproat – Round 3, Pick 90 (New York Mets)
2021: OF Jud Fabian – Round 2, Pick 40 (Boston Red Sox)
2021: RHP Tommy Mace – Round 2, Pick 69 (Cleveland Indians)
2021: C Nathan Hickey – Round 5, Pick 136 (Boston Red Sox)
2021: RHP Christian Scott – Round 5, Pick 142 (New York Mets)
2021: OF Jacob Young – Round 7, Pick 203 (Washington Nationals)
2021: RHP Jack Leftwich – Round 7, Pick 216 (Cleveland Indians)
2021: RHP Franco Aleman – Round 10, Pick 306 (Cleveland Indians)
2019: SS Brady McConnell – Round 2, Pick 44 (Kansas City Royals)
2019: RHP Tyler Dyson – Round 5, Pick 153 (Washington Nationals)
2019: OF Wil Dalton – Round 8, Pick 257 (Boston Red Sox)
2019: OF Nelson Maldonado – Round 21, Pick 642 (Chicago Cubs)
2018: 3B Jonathan India – Round 1, Pick 5 (Cincinnati Reds)
2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
2018: RHP Jackson Kowar – Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
2018: C JJ Schwarz – Round 8, Pick 233 (Oakland Athletics)
2018: SS Deacon Liput – Round 10, Pick 314 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2018: RHP Michael Byrne – Round 14, Pick 409 (Cincinnati Reds)
2018: OF/LHP Nick Horvath – Round 25, Pick 745 (Baltimore Orioles)
2017: RHP Alex Faedo – Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
2017: SS Dalton Guthrie – Round 6, Pick 173 (Philadelphia Phillies)
2017: C Mike Rivera – Round 6, Pick 192 (Cleveland Indians)
2017: C Mark Kolozsvary – Round 7, Pick 197 (Cincinnati Reds)
2017: RHP David Lee – Round 27, Pick 808 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2017: RHP Frank Rubio – Round 29, Pick 876 (San Francisco Giants)
2017: 2B Deacon Liput – Round 29, Pick 880 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2017: C JJ Schwarz – Round 38, Pick 1129 (Tampa Bay Rays)
2016: LHP A.J. Puk – Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
2016: RHP Dane Dunning – Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
2016: RHP Logan Shore – Round 2, Pick 47 (Oakland Athletics)
2016: OF Buddy Reed – Round 2, Pick 48 (San Diego Padres)
2016: 1B Pete Alonso – Round 2, Pick 64 (New York Mets)
2016: RHP Shaun Anderson – Round 3, Pick 88 (Boston Red Sox)
2016: LHP Scott Moss – Round 4, Pick 108 (Cincinnati Reds)
2016: LHP Kirby Snead – Round 10, Pick 312 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2015: SS Richie Martin – Round 1, Pick 20 (Oakland Athletics)
2015: OF Harrison Bader – Round 3, Pick 100 (St. Louis Cardinals)
2015: RHP Eric Hanhold – Round 6, Pick 181 (Milwaukee Brewers)
2015: LHP Danny Young – Round 8, Pick 242 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2015: RHP Taylor Lewis – Round 9, Pick 270 (Atlanta Braves)
2015: 3B Josh Tobias – Round 10, Pick 294 (Philadelphia Phillies)
2015: LHP Bobby Poyner – Round 14, Pick 411 (Boston Red Sox)
2015: RHP Mike Vinson – Round 24, Pick 730 (Detroit Tigers)
2015: RHP Aaron Rhodes – Round 28, Pick 855 (Los Angeles Angels)
2014: C Taylor Gushue – Round 4, Pick 131 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2014: RHP Justin Shafer – Round 8, Pick 234 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2014: RHP Karsten Whitson – Round 11, Pick 344 (Boston Red Sox)
2014: 2B Casey Turgeon – Round 24, Pick 735 (St. Louis Cardinals)
2014: RHP Ryan Harris – Round 26, Pick 794 (Boston Red Sox)
2014: RHP Keenan Kish – Round 34, Pick 1025 (Cincinnati Reds)
2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
2013: LHP Daniel Gibson – Round 7, Pick 210 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2013: OF Taylor Ratliff – Round 13, Pick 390 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2013: RHP Johnny Magliozzi – Round 17, Pick 506 (New York Mets)
2013: SS Cody Dent – Round 22, Pick 676 (Washington Nationals)
2013: OF Jeff Driskel – Round 29, Pick 863 (Boston Red Sox)
2013: RHP Karsten Whitson – Round 37, Pick 1126 (Washington Nationals)
2012: C Mike Zunino – Round 1, Pick 3 (Seattle Mariners)
2012: LHP/1B Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
2012: SS Nolan Fontana – Round 2, Pick 61 (Houston Astros)
2012: LHP Steven (Paco) Rodriguez – Round 2, Pick 82 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2012: RHP Austin Maddox – Round 3, Pick 118 (Boston Red Sox)
2012: OF Preston Tucker – Round 7, Pick 219 (Houston Astros)
2012: RHP Hudson Randall – Round 7, Pick 244 (Detroit Tigers)
2012: OF Daniel Pigott – Round 9, Pick 292 (Cincinnati Reds)
2012: RHP Greg Larson – Round 20, Pick 631 (Boston Red Sox)
2011: LHP Nick Maronde – Round 3, Pick 104 (Los Angeles Angels)
2011: RHP Anthony DeSclafani – Round 6, Pick 199 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2011: RHP Alex Panteliodis – Round 9, Pick 282 (New York Mets)
2011: RHP Tommy Toledo – Round 11, Pick 341 (Milwaukee Brewers)
2011: 2B Josh Adams – Round 13, Pick 403 (Florida Marlins)
2011: 1B/OF Preston Tucker – Round 16, Pick 498 (Colorado Rockies)
2011: C Ben McMahan – Round 23, Pick 701 (Milwaukee Brewers)
2011: RHP Matt Campbell – Round 24, Pick 751 (Philadelphia Phillies)
2011: RHP Greg Larson – Round 29, Pick 885 (Los Angeles Angels)
2011: OF Bryson Smith – Round 34, Pick 1045 (Cincinnati Reds)
2011: OF Tyler Thompson – Round 46, Pick 1387 (Washington Nationals)
2010: LHP Kevin Chapman – Round 4, Pick 119 (Kansas City Royals)
2010: OF Matt den Dekker – Round 5, Pick 152 (New York Mets)
2010: RHP Tommy Toledo – Round 32, Pick 975 (Minnesota Twins)
2010: C Hampton Tignor – Round 36, Pick 1104 (Los Angeles Angels)
2010: RHP Justin Poovey – Round 41, Pick 1254 (Los Angeles Angels)
2010: RHP Matt Campbell – Round 43, Pick 1297 (Cincinnati Reds)
2009: RHP Billy Bullock – Round 2, Pick 70 (Minnesota Twins)
2009: OF Avery Barnes – Round 11, Pick 331 (Colorado Rockies)
2009: LHP Tony Davis – Round 12, Pick 372 (Minnesota Twins)
2009: OF Matt den Dekker – Round 16, Pick 475 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2009: RHP Patrick Keating – Round 20, Pick 602 (Kansas City Royals)
2009: C Buddy Munroe – Round 22, Pick 672 (Minnesota Twins)
2009: LHP Stephen Locke – Round 22, Pick 681 (Los Angeles Angels)
2009: SS Mike Mooney – Round 23, Pick 686 (Baltimore Orioles)
2009: OF Riley Cooper – Round 25, Pick 754 (Texas Rangers)
2009: LHP Kevin Chapman – Round 50, Pick 1513 (Chicago White Sox)
2008: SS Cole Figueroa – Round 6, Pick 195 (San Diego Padres)
2008: OF Avery Barnes – Round 40, Pick 1201 (Washington Nationals)
2008: RHP Josh Edmondson – Round 41, Pick 1249 (Los Angeles Angels)