With the 2020 MLB Draft completed, the Gators' 2020 recruiting class is now finalized.
Florida originally signed 17 commits, but the program's top two signees, Zac Veen and Coby Mayo, were both selected in the draft and are expected to sign with the organizations that drafted them.
Florida also lost one of their signees in first baseman, T.J. Curd, as he was released from his National Letter of Intent and is currently an uncommitted recruit. Right-handed pitcher Jackson Nezuh also announced he won’t be attending Florida and committed to Florida State.
With that being said, Florida will still bring in 13 commits from its 2020 class. On Perfect Game, the Gators have the nation's fifth-ranked recruiting class and fourth-ranked class in the SEC.
Below are top-five signees in the class of 2020.
1. INF Colby Halter
Halter is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound infielder out of Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville. On Perfect Game, Halter is the 78th-ranked prospect and 17th-ranked shortstop. He’s also the 17th-ranked prospect and fourth-ranked shortstop in the Sunshine State.
Kevin O'Sullivan's program got lucky by keeping the Jacksonville native, as all 30 MLB organizations reached out to express interest. After the third round of the draft, Halter announced on Twitter he would honor his commitment and enroll at the University of Florida.
Halter is a left-handed hitting infielder who will compete for a starting job during the 2021 season, with third, second and first base all up for grabs next season. His bat is his best tool as he makes solid contact to all fields while hitting for some power as well.
2. INF Sterlin Thompson
Thompson is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound infielder out of North Marion High School in Ocala, Florida. On Perfect Game, Thompson checks in as the nation's 55th-ranked prospect and ninth-ranked shortstop. He’s also the 13th-ranked prospect and third-ranked shortstop in Florida.
Thompson was a late bloomer in the eyes of some pro scouts. He originally committed to Stetson but backed off his commitment and flipped to Florida, which helped him gain interest from scouts. Some graded him as a second round talent but weren’t able to do enough homework on him due to his senior season being cancelled by COVID-19.
Like Halter, Thompson is a left-handed hitter who is versatile on defense and will compete for a starting job. His bat is his best tool as he makes a lot of solid contact and has a good launch angle to generate power.
Once Thompson starts to fill out his 6-foot-3, frame, he will have the potential to become one of the best power bats in Florida’s lineup.
3. RHP Franco Aleman
Aleman is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound right-handed pitcher out of St. John’s River State College in Palatka, Florida. On Perfect Game, Aleman was the 80th-ranked prospect and 30th-ranked right-handed pitcher in the class of 2018. He was also the 16th-ranked prospect and seventh-ranked right-handed pitcher in Florida.
Aleman is only JUCO signee in Florida’s 2020 recruiting class. The Alonso High School graduate started off his collegiate career at FIU and made 14 appearances as a freshman, including 12 starts. Aleman was also promoted to Sunday starter in the middle of the season. He posted a 3-5 record with a 3.97 ERA and 53 strikeouts.
After an All-Star season at the Cape Cod Summer Collegiate League, Aleman enrolled at St. John’s River State College. He made seven starts as a sophomore and recorded a 3-1 record and 3.26 ERA. Aleman had a team-high 51 strikeouts, an 11.87 K/9, and only walked six batters.
Aleman will arrive on UF's campus as one of the most talented arms on the staff. He will likely be counted on by being a late inning relief pitcher and midweek starter. His power fastball plays up to 96 mph, and his slider gets a lot of swing and misses.
4. LHP Timmy Manning
Manning is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound left-handed pitcher out of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale. On Perfect Game, Manning is the 87th-ranked prospect and the seventh-ranked left-handed pitcher. As for his state ranking, Manning is labeled as the 20th-ranked prospect and second-ranked left-handed pitcher.
This was another good keep for the Gators. Manning has been committed to the program for quite some time and was also on the radar of several MLB organizations.
Manning entered the draft as one of the top-ranked left-handed pitchers in high school. He doesn’t have a mid-90s fastball that blows people away, but his ability to mix pitches to keep hitters off balance stands out. He also has good command on pitches to force weak contact. Manning should gain some velocity once he starts to mature physically.
5. C Mac Guscette
On Perfect Game, the 6-foot, 193-pound Guscette is the 59th-ranked prospect and sixth-ranked catcher. He’s also the 14th-ranked prospect and second-ranked catcher in the Sunshine State.
A product of Venice (Fla.) High, Guscette was one of three UF commits who played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic. The other two commits were Zac Veen and Coby Mayo, who were both selected in last week’s draft.
Guscette is a very sound defensive catcher who does a lot of things well behind the plate. His in-game pop time is usually recorded in the 1.93 range. He does a good job of receiving pitches and moves well behind the dish.
At the plate, Guscette boasts more offensive potential than most catchers in the 2020 class. He has quick hands to generate bat speed, with most of his power coming from the pull side.
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