2017 MLB Draft: Florida pitcher Alex Faedo taken by Detroit Tigers at No. 18

Florida Gators starting pitcher Alex Faedo was selected with the 18th overall pick by the Detroit Tigers tonight in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft.

The junior right-hander was anticipated to be selected early on, and becomes the eighth Gator to be drafted in the first round under Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. Sully has had at least one player drafted in the first round for three straight years.

On the season Faedo is 7-2 with a 2.60 ERA, with 132 strikeouts in 107.1 innings pitched. The 6’5” righty throws a mid-90s fastball and a devastating slider, and owns the best winning percentage in Florida history with a 26-6 career record (.813). He has a 2.96 earned run average over 273.1 career innings pitched, and ranks third all-time with 324 strikeouts.

Faedo starred in the series lead-off starting role on Faedo Fridays this season, and was named a Second Team All-American. He has held his opponents to one earned run or fewer in 11 of his 17 starts this season.

Here’s a fun fact about Faedo’s Detroit draft choice: he was actually already drafted by the Tigers - in the 40th round, back when he was coming out of high school. You have to imagine that the selection is a little bit sweeter this time around.

Of course, the Gators are kind of in the middle of something at the moment. As I type this, Florida leads Wake Forest 3-0 in the sixth inning in game three of the Gainesville Super Regional, with a trip to Omaha on the line.

Rounds one and two of the MLB Draft are occurring tonight, with rounds three to ten being selected tomorrow, and rounds ten-and-up going on Wednesday.