Former Gators Face Adversity in the Minor Leagues

The major-league postseason is underway, but the MiLB season has come to a close. From Colby Shelton to Jac Caglianone, several former Florida Gators have had notable performances this season.

 Shelton’s professional journey is just beginning.  He was first drafted to the Washington Nationals in 2024, but turned it down to return to the Gators. He was drafted again this year as a sixth-round pick for the Chicago White Sox. 

Shelton was assigned to the Single-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers on August 5th. He played in a total of 27 MiLB games this season, slashing a .141/.243/.172. He also had 1 homer and 10 RBIs.  Defensively, Shelton also had a .974 FPCT when playing shortstop.

Jud Fabian was drafted by the Orioles in 2022. He spent this season playing as a center fielder for the Baltimore Orioles Triple-A team, the Norfolk Tides. Fabian has played a total of 142 MiLB games, posting 27 homers and 32 steals with a career slash of .217/.334/.408. 

Fabian had 15 homers, 40 RBIs, and slashed .186/.326/.349 this season. He dealt with a left wrist injury, placing him on the injured list at the end of June. He rehabbed with the High-A Aberdeen Ironbirds before returning to play with the Norfolk Tides in late July. 

Pitcher Hurston Waldrep was a first-round pick-up for the Atlanta Braves in 2023. He was called up for the first time in 2024, but struggled in the majors and has since bounced around Atlanta’s farm system. 

Waldrep spent the first few months of the 2025 season with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers before being recalled to the Braves in early August. He pitched 19 total games and 91.2 innings this season, achieving a 4.42 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. He pitched 10 games in the MLB, with a 2.88 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. This was a huge improvement from last season, where he pitched two Major League games, seven total innings, and posted a 16.71 ERA and 2.43 WHIP.

The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted pitcher Philip Abner in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. He began his first professional season with the High-A Hillsboro Hilltops, where he pitched 11 games and ended with a 1.93 ERA.

 He was promoted to Triple-A Reno in late August, where he had eight scoreless appearances and gave up only two hits and three walks. He achieved a 2.81 ERA in 99.1 IP in his MiLB career. Abner got the call-up to the MLB in late September, making him the 36th player under Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan to reach The Show.

Two-way player at Florida, Jac Caglianone, was drafted to the Kansas City Royals in 2024 and progressed quickly through the minor league before making his MLB debut in June 2025. 

Caglianone played in 66 minor league games this season, batting .337 and scoring 20 HRs and 72 RBIs. He faced a left hamstring strain at the end of July, sending him back down to rehab with the Omaha Storm Chasers during August. He played 62 MLB games this season and slashed .157/.237/.295.

While the Royals haven’t ruled out pitching in the majors, it seems like they are largely focused on his ability in the batter’s box. 

Pitcher Brandon Sproat was drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 2023 draft. Sproat bounced around the minors in his first professional season. He began with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, where he pulled off a 2-1 record, a 1.07 ERA, and 33 strikeouts. With the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, he recorded a 4-1 record, 2.45 ERA, and 11 strikeouts. 

He topped 2024 off with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, notching a 1-2 record and 7.53 ERA. He pitched 25 games in Syracuse in 2025, obtaining an 8-6 record, 4.24 ERA, and 113 strikeouts. Sproat’s impressive run in the MiLB earned him the call-up to the majors in early September.

Former Florida Gators pitcher Hunter Barco was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft. He spent the majority of his 2025 season between Triple-A Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona. 

He was called up in the final week of the regular season. He pitched a total of 99.1 innings in the minors this season, owning a 2.81 ERA. 3.54 FIP, and 1.2 WHIP. Barco had a 27.8% strikeout percentage and an 11.8% walk rate. There is a good chance that the Pirates get rid of Barco this winter, as they seem to have their starting five set for next season and need to strengthen their batting lineup.

Category: Baseball, College Baseball, Former Gators, Uncategorized