Florida Professional Athletes

Pete Alonso Steals the Week — and His Old Home

The most emotionally charged storyline of the MLB stretch run belonged to a Florida Gator. Pete Alonso returned to Citi Field for the first time since leaving the New York Mets in the offseason — now in Baltimore orange — and he did not disappoint on the biggest stage of the series.

On Tuesday, September 15, Alonso crushed a ninth-inning home run off Kodai Senga to tie the game, a blast that turned out to be the 300th of his career. The Orioles went on to win 7-5 in 11 innings, keeping Baltimore's AL Wild Card hopes alive. Mets fans, despite losing, erupted for Alonso and sent him out for a curtain call — a moment that drew sharp reaction from Mets pitcher Sean Manaea, who called it "crazy." Alonso had come in acknowledged by a standing ovation in his first at-bat on Monday as well, with nearly 36,000 fans turning out just to see the returning slugger.

The postgame scene added another layer. Three Mets fans who caught the historic ball negotiated a trade with Alonso — signed jerseys, memorabilia, and an invite to Camden Yards — in exchange for returning it. The kind of moment that would feel scripted if it showed up in a movie.

Alonso didn't stop there. On Wednesday he went deep again in Baltimore's 7-1 win over the Mets, and on Friday he went deep once more in a 5-6 loss to Milwaukee. For the week, Alonso posted three home runs and finished with a .266–.269 average range — the kind of production that justifies Baltimore's five-year, $155 million investment. The Orioles' biggest success story of 2026, per The Sporting News, runs straight through their new first baseman from Gainesville.

Other Gators Making Noise

Alonso wasn't the only Florida alumni worth watching this week.

Wyatt Langford continued to build a case as one of the more well-rounded Gator products in the league. The Rangers outfielder recorded hits in multiple games, drew walks at a high clip, and homered on Sunday the 13th against Arizona — one of several multi-hit, multi-run efforts across the week. He finished with a .242 average heading into the weekend.

Jac Caglianone, the former Florida two-way star now patrolling right field for Kansas City, had one of his better weeks of the season. The Royals outfielder posted a two-hit, two-run, two-walk line against Pittsburgh on Saturday and carried a .279 average into the final stretch of the season — solid production for a rookie learning at the highest level.

On the mound, Andrew Painter drew a spot start for the Phillies in Game 3 of their series against the Mets on Saturday, going 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts. He's kept his ERA in check despite a tough run of opponents. Christian Scott delivered a quality start for the Mets on Sunday the 13th — six innings, seven strikeouts, two earned runs — a showing that underlined why New York is counting on him as a rotation piece.

Brady Singer had a week to forget. The Reds right-hander allowed seven earned runs in just 3.1 innings against the Dodgers on Thursday as Los Angeles clinched the NL West, pushing Singer's ERA to 5.67. It was a brutal outing in a difficult spot.

The Alonso curtain call will be the lasting image of Gator week in MLB — a Florida product delivering in the spotlight, in a place that made him famous, for a team that paid to make him theirs.

Pete Alonso Delivers When Baltimore Needs It Most

The Orioles' Wild Card window is narrowing, and Pete Alonso — the former Florida Gator now manning first base in Baltimore — has been one of the few bright spots in a white-knuckle stretch run.

After a troubling 15-game cold snap that had Sports Illustrated questioning whether the big slugger could get right in time, Alonso answered loudly this week. He went deep on Tuesday, September 8 against the Guardians, finishing with two hits, a homer, and two RBI in Baltimore's win. He followed that with another productive showing Monday — drawing two walks and driving in a run — before adding yet another home run on Saturday against Toronto, going 1-for-3 with two walks, two RBI, and a run scored in a 7-3 loss. A .266 average and consistent on-base production: that's the Alonso the Orioles signed to anchor their lineup.

Baltimore's playoff math remains precarious. The Orioles snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over Cleveland earlier in the week, but the margin for error is razor-thin. The front office has also floated more DH appearances for Alonso as a way to keep his bat in the lineup and his legs fresh down the stretch. However they deploy him, the Gators' most prominent MLB alumnus is showing up when the calendar matters most.

Sproat Bounces Between Milwaukee and Nashville

It's been a turbulent week for Brewers right-hander Brandon Sproat. The Florida product opened the period back in Triple-A Nashville, called up to Milwaukee only because Grant Anderson landed on the 15-day IL with right biceps inflammation. Sproat's stint was short-lived: he allowed four earned runs in just 1.1 innings against the Cubs on September 9, and the Brewers promptly optioned him back down before promoting another arm ahead of their Reds series. Milwaukee is 92-56 and among the NL's best, but Sproat hasn't yet made the case that he belongs in their high-leverage September rotation picture.

Singer Struggles; Langford and Scott Flash Bright Moments

Reds starter Brady Singer had a week to forget. He surrendered eight earned runs over four innings against the Brewers on Saturday — pushing his ERA to 5.38 — in a lopsided Cincinnati loss. Singer has now made things difficult for a Reds club already well out of contention at 69-78.

There was better news elsewhere in the Gator alumni network. Wyatt Langford delivered a two-run homer for Texas in a 10-3 win over Seattle on Wednesday, continuing to show flashes of the power that made him a top Rangers prospect. He's hitting .241 on the year but has been one of the more consistent contributors among Florida's position players this week.

Christian Scott gave the Mets' rotation a solid turn on Sunday, September 6 against the Giants — striking out seven over 4.2 innings while allowing just two runs. New York rallied in the eighth to win 4-2, and Scott's command was central to keeping the Mets alive in a tight NL Wild Card race of their own.

Jud Fabian, meanwhile, remains in the minors but hit two home runs in a single game in the Orioles' system on September 11 — a reminder of the prospect talent Baltimore continues to develop.

Caglianone Is Kansas City's Hottest Story

The Gators have a star in the making in Kansas City. Jac Caglianone capped a dominant August by taking home AL Player of the Month honors, part of a remarkable double recognition for the Royals — teammate Noah Cameron earned AL Pitcher of the Month in the same sweep. For a franchise still searching for its identity post-rebuild, the Florida product has become the face of what's possible.

The numbers from this week alone tell the story. Caglianone went 2-for-his-series with 2 RBI and a run scored against the Marlins on Thursday, added another hit and RBI Wednesday, and kept the ball rolling Saturday against the Blue Jays. He's hitting .283 on the season, and the buzz around his name has grown loud enough that Sports Illustrated is already penciling him into Kansas City's 2027 vision alongside Carter Jensen.

"One Royal Way" host Joel Penfield called out Caglianone's August specifically, and the heavy.com transaction wire lit up before his start window against Miami — signs that the league is paying attention to every move the Royals make involving their young right fielder. This isn't a hot week. This is a breakout.

Jonathan India, the other Florida alum in the Kansas City infield, provides a veteran presence alongside Caglianone as the Royals close out the season with genuine momentum.

Painter Brilliant, Wasted in Philly

Andrew Painter had no business losing Wednesday in Arizona — and he didn't, technically, but his ledger says 1-0 loss anyway. The former Gator hurled seven shutout innings against the Diamondbacks, punching out six, only to watch Philadelphia's offense generate three hits against him. His ERA sits at 5.55, a number that flatters neither him nor his story arc, but the underlying performance is increasingly disconnected from that figure. Sports Illustrated noted that Painter is making the Phillies look smart for their patience with his development. The results will follow — if the offense ever shows up.

Alonso Heats Up in Baltimore

Pete Alonso made his presence felt in a four-game series against Boston that carried genuine AL wild-card implications. The former Gator first baseman went deep Thursday against the Red Sox — adding 2 RBI and a run scored — and has been a consistent offensive contributor since arriving in Baltimore. He's hitting .265 and stepping into a lineup that needs every bit of his power as the O's fight for their October lives.

Langford Stays Steady in Texas

Wyatt Langford has been a quiet workhorse for the Rangers through the week. He went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored Wednesday in an 8-5 win over Oakland, added a hit and two runs Friday in a 6-0 win over Tampa Bay, and has maintained a .246–.254 average band throughout the stretch. Not a headline grabber, but the kind of reliable production that keeps Texas in games.

Anderson's Bumpy Road Continues

Florida alum Shaun Anderson had a rough week of a different kind. The Angels designated him for assignment August 30, he cleared waivers and elected free agency September 2 — only to re-sign with Los Angeles on a new minor league deal shortly after. The revolving door at the Angels' roster fringe continues for Anderson, who remains a depth option as the season winds down.

Two former Gators swinging the hottest bats in their respective dugouts. That's the Florida alumni story of the week in MLB — and it's a good one.

Caglianone Goes Supernova in KC

Jac Caglianone delivered the kind of game that gets replayed on highlight loops for weeks. The Kansas City Royals outfielder went 5-for-6 with a home run and a career-high six RBIs in a 13-2 blowout of the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, Aug. 27 — the most dominant offensive performance of his young MLB career. He didn't stop there, adding two more hits in each of his next two appearances (Friday and Saturday) to finish the week batting .285. From a guy who was still learning pro ball not long ago, Caglianone is looking increasingly like a middle-of-the-order force. The Royals won the Blue Jays series 2-1, with Caglianone as the clearest difference-maker.

Alonso Powers Baltimore — Then Limbers Into Concern

Pete Alonso had a week that was equal parts electric and nerve-wracking for Orioles fans. The veteran first baseman torched the St. Louis Cardinals across back-to-back showings: a four-hit, one-homer, four-RBI effort in a 13-1 rout Tuesday, then added his 32nd home run of the season and two more RBIs in an 8-7 edge-of-your-seat win Wednesday. Baltimore took the Cardinals series convincingly, with Alonso serving as the engine.

Then came the subplot. Alonso exited the 13-1 blowout early with what was described as a calf issue, and Orioles manager Craig Albernaz did little to calm nerves — snapping at a reporter who pressed him on the injury during the postgame presser. By Saturday, Alonso was still in the lineup but drew only a walk in a 2-2 tie against the Athletics. The calf concern remains a low-grade storyline worth watching as Baltimore pushes through the stretch run. Alonso's season average sits at .272.

The Rest of the Gator Roster

The Florida alumni footprint across MLB is wide, and a few others made noise this week.

Wyatt Langford had a strong stretch for the Texas Rangers, homering in Monday's 11-2 win over the White Sox and reaching base consistently throughout the week with multiple multi-hit performances. He finished the week batting .257 after hitting .251 entering Sunday.

Jacob Young continued to do enough to keep himself in the Washington Nationals' starting lineup — no small feat given the organization's touted prospects waiting in the wings. The center fielder made a jaw-dropping Spider-Man catch against the Marlins on Sunday, scaling the outfield wall to rob Heriberto Hernández of a home run and doubling off the baserunner to complete a highlight-reel double play. He hit .247 on the week and, per reporting, has managed to hold off competition for his roster spot with plays like that one.

Christian Scott hit a wall for the Mets on Friday night, issuing three straight walks in the sixth inning against the Astros and unraveling in what became a 3-1 loss. His ERA ticked up to 3.80, though his 4-3 record suggests there's still a quality arm underneath the rough outing. Manager Andy Green called it a "learning experience."

The Gator pipeline is deep, and this week proved it — from Caglianone's career-best breakout to Alonso's power surge and the defensive wizardry of Young. Florida alumni are everywhere in August baseball, and most of them are making their presence felt.