The Florida Gators’ baseball team may get a shot in the arm in the outfield.
Florida true freshman receiver Raphael Andrades is trying out for the baseball team, according to a family member. He was selected in the 36th round by the Kansas City Royals in this past June’s MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Andrades plays in the outfield, where the Gators are thinner than expected with Tyler Thompson leaving the team for personal reason last week. Thompson, a senior, was expected to start in center field after receiving a medical hardship last season when he suffered his second knee injury since arriving at Florida.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Andrades is from Tallhassee (Fla.) Lincoln High. He’ll certainly add speed to the team as he reporteldy runs the 60-yard dash in 6.68 seconds. He bats right and throws right.
Andrades, who runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds, was one of two true freshman receivers to earn starts this past football season. He played in nine games and caught a pair of passes for five yards while also serving as a solid downfield blocker.