Updated: Schwarz, Liput, Byrne, Horvath also taken in MLB draft

[Updated: 6-6-18, 8:28 p.m.]

Florida junior relief pitcher Michael Byrne was selected in the 14th round (409 pick overall) of the MLB draft on Wednesday by the Cincinnati Reds, who also drafted Gator third baseman Jonathan India in the first round Monday.

In his career at Florida, Byrne has appeared in 82 games and with 34 saves, which ranks first on the all-time career list at Florida. He has posted a career ERA of 1.96 with six wins. Byrne has struck out 158 batters and only walked 22 in his three years in Gainesville.

Hey @Reds…Are ready to #FeelTheByrne?? 🔥🔥🔥

Junior Michael Byrne is the second #Gators player selected by Cincinnati in the 2018 #MLBDraft, joining first rounder Jonathan India. pic.twitter.com/7rt5UB5t2k

— Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 6, 2018

Senior outfielder Nick Horvath was selected in the 25th round (745 pick overall) by the Baltimore Orioles, making seven Gators drafted, so far.

The two-way player has made 149 appearances in the field and 45 on the mound in his Florida career. The left-hander holds a 3.72 ERA over four seasons with a 5-1 record in 46.0 innings pitched.

On Tuesday:

Florida catcher JJ Schwarz was taken 233rd overall today (8th round) by the Oakland Athletics, becoming the fourth Gator taken so far in the 2018 MLB Draft. He will most likely join former teammates A.J. Puk and Logan Shore as a member of the A’s organization next Spring.

This is the third time the senior has been drafted. Coming out of high school, he was selected by the Brewers in the 17th round in 2014 and in the 38th round by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017.

He was recently named a First Team All-SEC selection after posting a .325 batting average and 12 home runs to go along with a career-best .404 on-base percentage in 55 games played.

A’s select Florida catcher JJ Schwarz, who was AJ Puk’s catcher a couple of years ago, in the eighth round.

— Martin Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) June 5, 2018

Florida shortstop Deacon Liput was taken with the 314th overall pick (10th round) by the Los Angeles Dodgers. This is the second year in a row that the Dodgers have selected the junior shortstop.

Coming out of high school, he was selected by the Yankees in the 39th round in 2014 and in the 29th round by Los Angeles in 2017.

For the second year in a row, Deacon Liput gets drafted by the @Dodgers!

He’s the fifth player taken from the #Gators through 10 rounds of the 2018 #MLBDraft.

MORE: https://t.co/FgvLi0ZV1G pic.twitter.com/beAJUCMhHM

— Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 5, 2018

For the first time, there were three Florida Gators were taken in the first round of the MLB Draft. Florida third baseman Jonathan India was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the 5th overall pick, becoming the highest Gator picked in the MLB Draft since 2012 when Mariners catcher Mike Zunino was chosen third overall.

India was named the SEC Player of the Year while also earning First Team All-SEC honors. The Golden Spikes and Dick Howser Award semifinalist is hitting at a .364 clip with a team-high 18 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 2018.

He enjoyed a breakout junior season with the Gators, hitting .364 with 18 home runs and 45 RBIs to earn SEC player of the year honors. India had a 24-game hit streak earlier this season.

---

---

“We think Jonathan is an extremely exciting athlete who can impact the game in many ways,” said Dick Williams, president of baseball operations, in a statement. “He played very good defense at third base and has the athleticism to play elsewhere. As an accomplished and advanced college hitter, he should move quickly through the minor leagues. We are thrilled to add him to our organization.”

In the first round of the 2018 #MLBDraft, the Cincinnati #Reds select 3B Jonathan India from the University of Florida! pic.twitter.com/p5FspvNub2

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 4, 2018

India said he knew he was picked fifth by the Reds while playing in UF’s regional games against FAU on Monday night.

“You could hear it from the fans,” India said. “It’s a great honor and thanks to the Reds for picking me.”

Florida pitcher Brady Singer was also selected in the first round by the Kansas City Royals with the 18th overall pick in tonight’s MLB Draft.

In his career at Florida, Singer has posted a career record of 21-8 and a career ERA of 3.18. His junior year has been one to remember with a 11-1 record in 14 starts and a career best ERA of 2.27. In 95 innings pitched he has allowed just 24 earned runs on 64 hits with 19 walks. He has struck out 98 batters on the year and has a batting average against of .188. His career numbers to date are equally as impressive with 265 career strikeouts in 264.2 innings pitched. His 265 career strikeouts ranks seventh all-time at Florida. During his sophomore season he struck out 129 batters which ranks sixth on the single-season list at Florida.

Coming out of high school Singer was drafted in the second round, pick No. 56 overall, of the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

With the 18th overall pick in the #MLBDraft, the #Royals select RHP Brady Singer from Florida. #RaisedRoyal pic.twitter.com/oCq6z5rLyz

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 5, 2018

Florida right-hand pitcher Jackson Kowar was selected 33rd overall by Kansas City, joining teammate Brady Singer in the Heart of America. The Royals received picks 33 and 34 as compensatory picks in the draft after losing Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer to free agency last year.

Over the course of his career at Florida Kowar has earned 24 wins to just five loses with a career ERA of 3.63. In his 235.1 innings pitched he has struck out 219 batters with a batting average against of .258. He had a career-high 12 wins in the Gators’ National Championship season while striking out a career best 91 in 2018.

On the second day of the draft Tuesday, senior UF catcher JJ Schwarz was selected in the eighth round (233 player overall) by the Oakland Athletics. Schwarz was drafted in the 38th round, 1,129th overall last year. Schwarz is now part of the same organization as former teammates A.J. Puk, Logan Shore and Richie Martin.

Click back for more details.

Player	Year	Team (Pick)
Jim Watkins	1978	Atlanta Braves (1st in the June – Secondary Phase)
Rob Murphy	1981	Cincinnati Reds (3rd in the January – Secondary Phase)
Randy O’Neal	1981	Detroit Tigers (15th in the June – Secondary Phase)
Robby Thompson	1983	San Francisco Giants (2nd in the June – Secondary Phase)
Rich Rice	1983	Baltimore Orioles (3rd in the June – Secondary Phase)
Scott Ruskin	1986	Montreal Expos (8th in the January – Secondary Phase)
Jamie McAndrew	1989	Los Angeles Dodgers (28th compensation)
John Burke	1991	Houston Astros (6th) *did not sign
John Burke	1992	Colorado Rockies (27th)
Marc Valdes	1993	Florida Marlins (27th)
Brad Wilkerson	1998	Montreal Expos (33rd compensation)
Matt LaPorta	2007	Milwaukee Brewers (7th)
Mike Zunino	2012	Seattle Mariners (3rd)
Brian Johnson	2012	Boston Red Sox (31st)
Jonathon Crawford	2013	Detroit Tigers (20th)
Richie Martin	2015	Oakland A’s (20th)
A.J. Puk	2016	Oakland A’s (6th)
Dane Dunning	2016	Washington Nationals (29th)
Alex Faedo	2017	Detroit Tigers (18th)
Jonathan India	2018	Cincinnati Reds (5th)
Brady Singer	2018	Kansas City Royals (18th)
Jackson Kowar	2018	Kansas City Royals (33rd)