Final Gator Alum in MLB Playoffs Eliminated

The last remaining former Florida baseball player in the MLB playoffs, Harrison Bader, was eliminated last night as the Philadelphia Phillies lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in the 11th.

The Dodgers won the series 3-1, advancing to the NLCS for the seventh time in the last 10 seasons. As for the Phillies, playoff disappointment continues, losing in at least the NLDS in each of the last four seasons.

Bader was one of only two former Gators to make the playoffs this season, the other being Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brady Singer. However, Singer did not see the mound in Cincinnati’s two-game Wild Card loss to Los Angeles.

Bader only took three at-bats during Philadelphia’s four-game series against L.A. due to a groin injury he suffered in the fifth inning of Game 1. The outfielder’s absence was a major loss for the Phillies, as he was in the midst of a strong season, batting .305 with a 4.2 WAR.

Bader provided when given the opportunity, recording an RBI hit-by-pitch in Game 1 along with a clutch single in the bottom of the ninth of Game 2. However, in the biggest spot of the season, with two outs and a runner on second in the 11th inning of a tie game Thursday, Bader struck out, swinging on a slider that would’ve been ball four. A walk would’ve brought J.T. Realmuto to the plate, who had already recorded three RBIs in the series. Instead, the Dodgers would go on to walk it off in the bottom of the inning, advancing to the NLCS.

Pitcher Dane Dunning is the last Florida alum to win the World Series, doing so with Texas in 2023. Although no Gators made it past the division round this season, the talent is still very clear. Young players like Jac Caglione, Wyatt Langford and Jacob Young, along with veteran superstars like Pete Alonso, make up the current Gators in the MLB. However, all will have to look forward to next season to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning it all.

Category: Baseball, Former Gators, MLB, MLB Playoffs