Undrafted Gators Land Professional Baseball Contracts
Gainesville, FL (June 30, 2025)Three standout Florida Gators, who went undrafted in this year’s MLB Draft, have grabbed opportunities by signing with Major League Baseball organizations as free agents.Brandon Neely – Boston Red Sox
A versatile right-handed pitcher, Neely pitched three seasons with the Gators, earning All-SEC honors in 2023. While he threw as both a starter and reliever in 2024—logging 108 strikeouts over 79 innings with a 5.13 ERA—he went undrafted. However, the Red Sox immediately scooped him up, signing him to a contract reportedly valued at under-slot \$700,000 ([bloggingtheredsox.com][1], [si.com][2]). Neely is now Boston’s No. 30 prospect per MLB Pipeline, giving his professional journey a strong boost ([bloggingtheredsox.com][1]).Jac Caglianone – Kansas City Royals
A two-way phenom who played both pitcher and hitter at Florida, Caglianone was unexpectedly undrafted this spring. Undeterred, he signed with the Royals and has since begun his journey through their minor league affiliates. Originally selected sixth overall in the 2024 draft, he had signed a \$7.5 million deal with Kansas City ([floridagators.com][3], [si.com][2]).
Armando Albert – Windy City ThunderBolts (Frontier League)
Infielder Albert, despite going undrafted, signed a professional deal with the Windy City ThunderBolts, part of the Frontier League, an MLB Partner League. He’s already appeared in 20 games and notched his first professional hit ([floridagators.com][3]).
Previous Quartet Overview
At the end of the 2024 MLB Draft, Florida released a statement noting four players—Tyler Shelnut, Dale Thomas, Blake Purnell, and Armando Albert—signing with Partner League teams (Frontier League and American Association) ([floridagators.com][3]). This earliest wave showed the Gators’ depth, even beyond MLB organizations.
Road Ahead for Gator Talent
Brandon Neely begins a climb through Boston’s farm system aiming to mix starting and relief roles.
Jac Caglianone offers both arm and bat power in Kansas City’s developmental ranks. Armando Albertb continues gaining game experience in independent ball, showcasing his skills in hopes of earning a MiLB contract
Florida fans will be tracking these three closely—each taking unique routes toward their MLB dreams. Their signings emphasize that even without being drafted, Gators still carve out paths to professional baseball careers.
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Would you like to explore their early minor league stats, career promise, or next steps in the playoffs?
[1]: https://bloggingtheredsox.com/tag/florida-gators/ “florida gators – Blogging the Red Sox”
[2]: https://www.si.com/college/florida/florida-gators-news/2024-mlb-draft-does–damage-to-florida-gators-01j49m4v21c5 “2024 MLB Draft Does Its Damage to Florida Gators, Looking at 2025”
[3]: https://floridagators.com/news/2024/8/2/baseball-gators-quartet-inks-pro-contracts “G
ators Quartet Inks Pro Contracts – Florida Gators”
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