Gelof drafted by Dodgers; Commit Farmelo taken by Mariners in wait-and-see situation

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Posted on Sunday, Jul. 9, 2023, 9:00 pm

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By Jerry Ratcliffe

Photo: UVA Athletics

Virginia’s home run king, Jake Gelof, was the second Cavalier player taken in Sunday’s Major League Baseball Draft, selected with the 60th overall pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Earlier in the day, UVA teammate Kyle Teel was taken with the 14th pick in the first round by the Boston Red Sox. Meanwhile, Virginia commit Jonny Farmelo, a center fielder from Westfield High School in Northern Virginia, was drafted 29th overall by the Seattle Mariners.

Gelof is coming off one of the greatest seasons ever by a Cavalier. The hard-hitting third baseman set UVA single-season records for home runs with 23 and RBI with 90. He also became the program’s career leader for home runs with 48.

All of his success made him a semifinalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award, two of the most prestigious individual honors in college baseball. He was also a two-time, All-ACC first-team member.

Combined with Teel, they led UVA to a 50-win season, the ACC Coastal Division title, an NCAA Regional and Super Regional championship and an appearance in the College World Series, as the Cavaliers were the nation’s top-hitting team.

“Teel and Gelof have been outstanding,” Hall of Fame coach Brian O’Connor said of the duo. “Obviously the performance on the field, but their leadership in the clubhouse. Your draft-eligible year can be a challenging year because there can be distractions, and they haven’t been distracted because their approach has been so good and they’ve led by example on the field. But they’ve also led in that clubhouse and have really taken charge and shown what this baseball program is about.”

Farmelo is a speedy, 18-year-old prospect out of Centreville, and now faces a decision on whether to honor his commitment to UVA baseball or go pro. He reportedly has a number in mind that Seattle will have to match.

“I love the University of Virginia and the coaching staff there,” Farmelo recently told DC News Now reporter Jake Rohm. “I’ve got a bunch of boys going there too, so I have no problem betting on myself there if that’s where it ends up.”