Alex Faedo drafted in the first round of the MLB Draft

After three years at the University of Florida pitcher Alex Faedo realized a childhood dream when he was selected 19th overall in the 2017 MLB Draft. Faedo was drafted in the 40th round (1,210 overall) by the Tigers in 2014.

As the 18th overall selection Faedo is slotted to sign a contract worth $3.2 million dollars.

Faedo’s career .813 winning percentage (26-6) is fourth all-time at Florida among pitchers with at least 20 decisions. He also ranks third-all time in strikeouts.

“The thing that separates Alex from maybe most people in his position is he’s been able to handle all the expectations in the draft. He’s been awesome,” Kevin O’Sullivan said prior to Super Regionals.

A native of Tampa, Faedo has two of the best strikeout seasons in school history — 133 in 2016 and 132 so far in the 2017 season.

Faedo is the seventh Gators drafted in the first round in the last six years. He joins Mike Zunino (3rd overall – 2012 – Seattle), Brian Johnson (20th overall – 2012 – Boston), Jonathan Crawford (20th overall – 2013 – Detroit), Richie Martin (20th overall – 2015 – Oakland), A.J. Puk (6th overall – 2016 – Oakland) and Dane Dunning (29th overall – 2016 – Washington.)

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Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC