Mar 26, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) awaits the pitch on defense against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Nation-Leading 12 Gators on MLB Opening Day Rosters
Friday, March 27, 2026 | Baseball
Florida paced all schools with 12 players on 2026 Opening Day rosters and 17 during the 2025 season.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – As the 2026 Major League Baseball season officially hits full swing with all 30 teams in action this weekend, a nation-leading 12 former Florida Gators can be found on Opening Day rosters.
A total of 84 baseball players from the Southeastern Conference made MLB Opening Day rosters, led by 12 from the Gators – good for 14.3% of the conference's MLB talent. Florida's list includes nine players on active rosters and three on injured lists.
MLB Opening Day Gators (* indicates IL)
Pete Alonso, Baltimore Orioles
Harrison Bader, San Francisco Giants
Hunter Barco, Pittsburgh Pirates
Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals
Jonathan India, Kansas City Royals
Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers
Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds
Brandon Sproat, Milwaukee Brewers
Jacob Young, Washington Nationals
*A.J. Puk, Arizona Diamondbacks
*Hurston Waldrep, Atlanta Braves
*Danny Young, Atlanta Braves
Last season, Florida's 17 former players to appear in the MLB marked the most by any NCAA program. Since Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan's 2008 arrival, 41 Gators have made their MLB debuts – five more than any other school. A total of 89 Gators have appeared in the MLB.
While many MLB teams opened the 2026 season on Wednesday and Thursday, all 30 clubs will have played their first game by the end of Friday night. The Gators will also be in action on Friday, when they open a three-game series at No. 4 Arkansas at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
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A total of 84 baseball players from the Southeastern Conference made MLB Opening Day rosters, led by 12 from the Gators – good for 14.3% of the conference's MLB talent. Florida's list includes nine players on active rosters and three on injured lists.
MLB Opening Day Gators (* indicates IL)
Pete Alonso, Baltimore Orioles
Harrison Bader, San Francisco Giants
Hunter Barco, Pittsburgh Pirates
Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals
Jonathan India, Kansas City Royals
Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers
Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds
Brandon Sproat, Milwaukee Brewers
Jacob Young, Washington Nationals
*A.J. Puk, Arizona Diamondbacks
*Hurston Waldrep, Atlanta Braves
*Danny Young, Atlanta Braves
Last season, Florida's 17 former players to appear in the MLB marked the most by any NCAA program. Since Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan's 2008 arrival, 41 Gators have made their MLB debuts – five more than any other school. A total of 89 Gators have appeared in the MLB.
While many MLB teams opened the 2026 season on Wednesday and Thursday, all 30 clubs will have played their first game by the end of Friday night. The Gators will also be in action on Friday, when they open a three-game series at No. 4 Arkansas at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
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