Thursday, July 24, 2008
According to the Gainesville Sun, sources close to the Gator baseball team have announced that junior to-be starting short stop Cole Figueroa has decided to forego his final two seasons and head to the Major Leagues. Figueroa is said to have reached a deal with the San Diego Padres, the team who drafted him in the 6th round of this June’s Major League draft. Figueroa had been spending the summer player for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod league but left the team to sign with the Padres. Gator head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan has yet to comment on Figueroa’s decision and no replacement has been speculated by the team. Most believe that talented Gator sophomore to-be, Josh Adams will be the leading candidate to take over at shortstop after playing most of last season at both second and third base. Figueroa was a solid fielder for the Gators hitting .340 with 20 home runs and 107 RBIs in his two seasons.