Florida Gators left handed pitcher Pierce Coppola has been selected by the Chicago Cubs with the 211th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. The 7th round selection holds a value of $278,500. Coppola joins Colby Shelton and Jake Clemente as Gators drafted to this point.
Coppola’s collegiate career was hindered with injuries. After opening his freshman season in 2022 as Florida’s Sunday starter, Coppola missed the rest of the year due to injury and didn’t pitch again until midway through the 2024 season. In his return to action, Coppola posted a 1-4 record with an 8.75 ERA and .290 batting average against in.
As a redshirt junior in 2025, Coppola produced a career-best 2.53 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and .158 batting average against in seven starts. Coppola missed more time due to injury midway through the season.
Throughout his long four-year career at UF, Coppola remained one of the best strikeout pitchers in the country when healthy, striking out 85 batters in 49.1 career innings. It’s not at all surprising that a team would be willing to take a shot on Coppola even with the long injury history.
Standing at a towering 6’8, Coppola creates a ton of downhill movement on his pitches which is difficult for opposing teams to track. Coppola primarily threw a fastball / slider in 2025 and will likely need to develop a third pitch at the next level. Coppola’s velocity fluctuated throughout his career due to missing so much time, but he’s a guy that could sit in the mid 90’s in the future with a lively fastball.
Coppola has one year of eligibility remaining, but as a 7th round pick you can expect him to sign with the Cubs.