USF has three players selected in the 2026 MLB Draft
Ryan Pruitt, Edwin Alicea and Ethan Sutton all heard their names called in the MLB Draft on Sunday
The South Florida Bulls had three players selected in the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday.
It’s the second consecutive year USF has had a trio of players drafted. Mitch Hannahs has now had 20 players selected since becoming a collegiate head coach in 2014 at Indiana State.
The trio selected included outfielder Ryan Pruitt, pitcher Edwin Alicea and pitcher Ethan Sutton.
Outfielder Ryan Pruitt: Houston Astros (Pick No. 271)
The senior spent his final two seasons at USF after playing two years at the junior college level with Western Texas College in 2023 and Yavapai College in 2024.
Pruitt was a steadying force in the Bulls’ lineup over the past two seasons. He recorded more than 200 at-bats in each season and served as the team’s leadoff hitter in 2026.
The 2025 season was Pruitt’s best at the collegiate level, as he hit .281 with 16 extra-base hits, 41 RBIs and a .770 OPS. Last season, Pruitt hit .262 with 13 extra-base hits, 27 RBIs and a .718 OPS. He also recorded at least 20 stolen bases in each of his two seasons with the Bulls.
Last season, Pruitt finished with 11 more walks than strikeouts, an impressive mark that likely helped him get drafted inside the top 300.
Pruitt’s best game came on Feb. 21, when he homered, reached base six times and drove in seven runs in a 29-4 win over Georgia Southern (that’s not a typo).
His speed, plate discipline and consistency will be valuable attributes as he looks to reach the next level.
Pitcher Edwin Alicea: Detroit Tigers (Pick No. 426)
Alicea spent just one season with the Bulls after playing his freshman and sophomore seasons at Division II Nova Southeastern.
The junior posted a 5.14 ERA in 56 innings last season. He filled multiple roles for the Bulls, making eight starts and seven relief appearances.
Alicea averaged 0.90 strikeouts per inning, with his fastball reaching the mid-90s during the season. He pitched his best baseball down the stretch, allowing two runs or fewer in six of his final eight appearances.
His best outing came on April 2, when he allowed no earned runs and just six baserunners in a 10-1 USF victory over Memphis.
The left-hander will now look to take the next step in the Tigers organization.
Pitcher Ethan Sutton: Los Angeles Dodgers (Pick No. 493)
Sutton had entered the transfer portal before being drafted by the Dodgers.
He served as USF’s closer, leading the team with nine saves in 13 opportunities last season. Sutton posted a 3.53 ERA across 43 1/3 innings. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and has reached as high as 97 mph.
From February through April, Sutton put together a 15-game stretch in which he allowed one run or fewer in every appearance.
Sutton spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Georgia before missing the entire 2024 season with an arm injury.
Now, Sutton heads to the Dodgers, an organization with a strong track record of developing pitchers.
USF signees also hear their names called
Three high school players signed in USF’s 2026 recruiting class were also selected in this year’s draft: pitcher Tyson Grulkowski (Atlanta Braves, Pick No. 112), catcher Leo Marrero (Baltimore Orioles, Pick No. 350) and shortstop Max Irving (Los Angeles Dodgers, Pick No. 553).