The University of South Florida (USF) saw strong representation in the 2026 MLB Draft, with three players selected and one additional Bull signing as an undrafted free agent following the draft.
The first Bull off the board was outfielder Ryan Pruitt, who was selected by the Houston Astros with the 271st overall pick in the ninth round.
A Texas native, Pruitt finished the 2026 season with a .262 batting average across 202 at-bats, adding 10 doubles for the Bulls. During his two-year career at South Florida, he compiled a .272 batting average with 21 doubles, 68 RBIs, and 79 runs scored over 419 career at-bats.
Left-hander Edwin Alicea became the second Bull selected and the first pitcher from the program chosen in the draft, as the Detroit Tigers selected him with the 426th overall pick in the 14th round.
Alicea, a junior in 2026, made eight starts during his lone season with the Bulls after transferring from Division II Nova Southeastern. He appeared in 15 games overall, posting a 5-3 record with a 5.14 ERA while striking out 50 batters over 56 innings pitched.
The final Bull selected was redshirt sophomore right-hander Ethan Sutton, who was taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 16th round with the 493rd overall pick.
Sutton, who transferred from Georgia following the 2025 season, posted a 6-2 record with a 3.53 ERA across 18 appearances, including two starts, spanning 43.1 innings pitched. The Georgia native struck out 55 batters during his 2026 campaign while limiting opposing hitters to a .218 batting average.
Following the conclusion of the draft, another Bull continued the program’s strong weekend by signing with a Major League organization, as senior catcher Lance Trippel agreed to an undrafted free agent deal with the Detroit Tigers, joining Alicea in the organization.
A transfer from Florida State, Trippel posted a .301 batting average in 2026 with 16 doubles, 32 RBIs, and 55 hits across 183 at-bats. He made 49 starts while appearing in 51 games during the season. Over his two-year career at South Florida, the Sarasota native made 100 starts, recording more than 100 hits, 23 doubles, 63 RBIs, and a .274 batting average. Trippel also produced a 26-game on-base streak, the longest by a Bull in 2026 and the program’s longest since 2021.
