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Former GATOR Players

Discussion in 'GatorGrowl's Diamond Gators' started by WESGATORS, Apr 17, 2013.

  1. DoubleDown11

    DoubleDown11 GC Hall of Fame

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    David Ross signs with the Cubs.

    In other former Gator news, Brad Wilkerson graduated from UF today. Good for him.
     
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  2. DoubleDown11

    DoubleDown11 GC Hall of Fame

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  3. gators4life

    gators4life GC Hall of Fame

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    I believe Cole Figueroa is playing with the Yankees and received a Spring Training invite.
     
  4. Gatorgal04

    Gatorgal04 Lowly Fan Moderator

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    I saw Cole play last summer for the Bulls when I was on my baseball vacation. Looked great! Glad to hear the Yankees picked him up.
     
  5. WESGATORS

    WESGATORS Moderator VIP Member

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    I updated the list. Most recently:

    den Dekker to the Nationals

    Go GATORS!
    ,WESGATORS
     
  6. gators4life

    gators4life GC Hall of Fame

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    Desclafani looking good so far as a starting pitcher for the Reds.
     
  7. gatorcal

    gatorcal GC Legend

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    You can add Justin Shafer - LoA with the Blue Jays
    Daniel Gibson - HiA Dbacks

    There's a couple others that aren't showing up on rosters, but I don't think are done already - Turgeon, Crawford, Whitson. Maybe injured...?
     
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2015
  8. DoubleDown11

    DoubleDown11 GC Hall of Fame

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    Preston Tucker has a 4 digit OPS and leads all of pro baseball with 29 RBI. He probably spends every second of every day waiting for the phone to ring right now.
     
  9. gatorcal

    gatorcal GC Legend

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    And it just happened - got called up to replace Springer.
     
  10. DoubleDown11

    DoubleDown11 GC Hall of Fame

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    Awesome for Preston.

    7th player from the 2010 Gators to make the big leagues, and Johnson and Fontana aren't too far behind.
     
  11. WESGATORS

    WESGATORS Moderator VIP Member

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    http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=30572

    GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Former Gator All-American Preston Tuckerwas called up to the Major Leagues by the Houston Astros on Wednesday night.

    He becomes the eighth player in head coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s tenure at Florida to reach professional baseball’s highest level, joining left-hander Kevin Chapman (2007-10, Houston Astros), right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (2009-11, Miami Marlins), outfielder Matt den Dekker (2007-10, New York Mets), infielder Cole Figueroa (2007-08, Tampa Bay Rays), left-hander Nick Maronde (2009-11, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), left-hander Steven Rodriguez (2010-12, Los Angeles Dodgers) and catcher Mike Zunino (2010-12, Seattle Mariners).

    Tucker had recently been playing for the Fresno Grizzlies of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, where he was hitting .320 with 32 RBI, 19 runs, 10 homers and three doubles in 25 games. His RBI and home run totals led the minor leagues at the time of his call-up.

    Chosen by the Astros in the seventh round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft with the 219th selection, Tucker departed Gainesville as the school’s all-time leader in games played (265), games started (259), total bases (596), at bats (1,035), hits (341), RBI (258) and doubles (70).

    He helped the Gators to three consecutive NCAA College World Series appearances (2010-12) and back-to-back SEC Championships (2010-11).

    The Tampa native was an All-American in 2011 and 2012 and was a three-time All-SEC selection, earning first-team accolades in 2011 and 2012 after being a second-team pick in 2010.

    In '09, Tucker became the first player in school history to earn the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Freshman Hitter of the Year Award and he shared the SEC Freshman of the Year honor with LSU pitcher Matty Ott. He was the Most Outstanding Player of the Gainesville Regional, was a unanimous selection to the league’s All-Freshman Team and was chosen as a Freshman All-American by Baseball America, Louisville Slugger, Rivals and the NCBWA.

    In his final season, Tucker powered UF’s offense with a .393 (11-for-28) performance in NCAA play and became the first Gator to achieve Regional All-Tournament status all four years of his career. He is the lone UF player to earn Most Outstanding Player recognition twice (2009 & 2011). In 30 career NCAA Tourney games, Tucker batted .368 (46-for-125) and holds school records in career at bats (125), hits (46), RBI (31), runs (29), homers (11) and doubles (10).

    He was selected in the 16th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies with the 498th overall pick but decided to return to Florida for his senior season and earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology.

    This quotation from Tucker summed up his decision: “A lot of guys don’t have the opportunity to say that they got a college degree and I always want to have that to my credit. The bottom line is that I can go off and play pro ball next year and this is an opportunity that I really didn't want to pass up. It's playing baseball, it's the game I've always loved to play so in the end I'll still be doing what I love.”

    Besides Tucker, there are six other players with UF ties currently in the Big Leagues: DeSclafani (Reds), right-hander Darren O’Day (Baltimore Orioles), outfielder Ryan Raburn (Cleveland Indians), catcher David Ross (Chicago Cubs), Rodriguez (Dodgers) and Zunino (Mariners).


    Go GATORS!
    ,WESGATORS
     
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  12. gatorinmi

    gatorinmi GC Hall of Fame

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    Tucker went 1-3 last night with an rbi in their win.
     
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  13. MadduxFanII

    MadduxFanII GC Hall of Fame

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    Here's the story, with video. In fact, Preston's hit came in the top of the ninth and tied the game. It was part of Houston's three-run rally.

    Tucker looks to have lost a little weight, but other than that his stance and swing don't seem much changed at all from his UF days.
     
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  14. gatorcal

    gatorcal GC Legend

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    Almost former Gator Lance McCullers was called up to start tonight for the Astros. 21 years old. Imagine him anchoring our staff this year as a Junior...
     
  15. GatorStu1

    GatorStu1 Freshman

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    As an added what could have been.................. Lance is now 2-0 with Houston with a 1.88 ERA. He threw a complete game Wednesday night against Baltimore giving up 4 hits, no walks and striking out 11............. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
  16. wingtee

    wingtee GC Hall of Fame

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    Imagine that stud on our staff. He would be a hell of a # 3 for us. ;)
     
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  17. BillGator97

    BillGator97 Power Wheelchair Bowler

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    Preston did well enough over the first few weeks that the Astros started batting him 3rd. He was hitting over .300 but has cooled off the last couple games. Still doing quite well for the first place Astros.

    https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9958/
     
  18. gatorr4life

    gatorr4life -WE ARE THE BOYS- Premium Member

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    image.jpg
     
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  19. potomacgator

    potomacgator GC Legend

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    Den Dekker started tonight's game against the Phillies for the Nationals and has hit a home run.
     
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  20. DoubleDown11

    DoubleDown11 GC Hall of Fame

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