After going undrafted a year ago, junior shortstop Josh Rivera was selected in the third round with the 81st overall pick by the Chicago Cubs in the 2023 MLB Draft.
The Avon Park, Florida native posted just a .259 batting average and combined for 16 home runs in his first three seasons in Gainesville before exploding in his fourth and final season. Rivera slashed .348/.447/.617 with 19 home runs in 2023, the most by a Gators’ middle infielder in program history.
Rivera also posted his best fielding percentage (.965) of his career while making just nine errors last season.