Florida RHP commit Steven Echavarria selected by Oakland A's in 2023 MLB Draft

Florida commitment Steven Echavarria has been selected in the 2023 MLB Draft, taken by the Oakland Athletics with the 72nd overall pick in the third round of the draft.

Echavarria is a talented right handed pitcher and outfielder from Millburn, N.J., where he earned a top-50 rank from Perfect Game. He was the top-rated player from the state of New Jersey.

Committed to the Gators to play for coach Kevin O’Sullivan should the MLB Draft positioning not entice him, Echavarria would be a quality addition for the national runners-up from 2023.

Perfect Game scouted Steven Echavarria at the 2022 National Showcase and came away impressed with his offerings, writing the following:

“Steven Echavarria is a 2023 RHP/OF with a 6-2 175 lb. frame from Millburn, NJ who attends Millburn. Long and lean high waisted athletic build, still 16 years old and looks like it. Long and loose arm circle from a high flexible leg raise delivery, stays on line well, high 3/4’s arm slot, works very quickly.

“Fastball sat in the low 90’s and topped out at 94 mph, had hard diving action at times on his lower velocity fastballs. Slider was his pitch, gets on top of it well and has feel for shaping it, can go big or short with it, comfortable back dooring left handed hitters with the pitch. Only threw one change up. Strike thrower who has lots of positive emotion on the mound, very quick and efficient outing. Good student.”

More on the 2023 MLB Draft

The 2023 Major League Baseball Draft will begin during All-Star week, with the first two rounds getting underway at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 9. Rounds 3-10 will then begin at 2 p.m. ET on Monday, July 10, with rounds 11-20 starting at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 11.

This year’s MLB Draft is a historic one, as a draft lottery was used to determine the order for the first time. The Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics each had a 16.5% chance to receive the No. 1 overall pick. Ultimately, Pittsburgh won the right to have the first selection, with Washington finishing right behind them at No. 2. Oakland, however, fell all the way down to No. 6 overall.

While the MLB Draft is always unpredictable, the consensus is that this year’s top prospects both hail from LSU, who won the 2023 College World Series. Pitcher Paul Skenes and outfielder Dylan Crews headline this year’s class, which is considered a deep one.

Within the first ten rounds of the draft, each slot is assigned a certain value. Each team has a bonus pool that they are able to spend on these picks, and players will sign at, above or below their assigned slot value.

In rounds 11-20, there is no assigned slot value and MLB teams are free to spend up to $150,000 to sign their picks from the second half of the draft. If they exceed the $150,000 mark, that added amount will be deducted from their bonus pool.

Following the final day of the 2023 MLB Draft, selected players will have until August 1 to sign a contract.