A look at former Bulls in the MLB
When it comes to athletes being drafted into professional leagues, no USF Athletics program has had more success than baseball.
There have been 131 USF baseball players drafted into the MLB, including 17 pitchers since Billy Mohl took over in 2015.
Two South Florida alumni are current major league mainstays — pitchers Shane McClanahan and Austin Adams.
Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays
McClanahan suited up for the Bulls from 2017-18, posting a 9-8 record with a 3.31 ERA. During his sophomore season in 2018, McClanahan racked up a conference-high 120 strikeouts and finished second in the nation with 14.15 strikeouts per nine innings.
He set program records during his two seasons at USF. He began the 2018 season by pitching 31.2 innings without allowing a run, which is a school record. He was also a part of USF’s first combined no-hitter in program history, which occurred on March 18, 2018 against Army.
The Tampa Bay Rays selected McClanahan with the 31st overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. After making his debut in 2020 against the New York Yankees, McClanahan has been one of the top pitchers in the MLB. He received his first All-Star selection in 2022, posting a 12-8 record with a 3.00 ERA. McClanahan finished sixth in the American League in Cy Young Award voting, which is given annually to the major league’s top two pitchers.
McClanahan received his second consecutive All-Star bid on July 2. He currently leads the MLB in wins with 11 at the time of publication and ranks fourth in the majors with a 2.53 ERA. The Tampa Bay Rays lead the American League, and the former Bull has contributed to their success this season.
Austin Adams, Arizona Diamondbacks
Adams played three seasons at USF, posting a 1-2 record in 29 appearances from 2010 to 2012. He collected five saves in 2012, finishing second on the team. He was a major contributor during USF’s Big East Tournament run in 2012, where he picked up three saves in a four-game span.
The Los Angeles Angels drafted Adams in the 8th round of the MLB Draft. After spending a few years in the Minor Leagues, Adams made his MLB debut in 2017 playing for the Washington Nationals.
Since then, he has also played for the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. In 2023, he signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In seven seasons in the MLB, Adams has racked up a 6-5 record with a 3.92 ERA.
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