Zack Austin and Ruddy Gomez joined the #BuiltByUCF ranks as they inked free agent contracts following the 2023 MLB Draft. Austin signed with the Atlanta Braves and Gomez agreed to terms with the San Diego Padres.
Gomez signed with the Padres following his second year as a Knight. Earning the Friday starting role for UCF in the 2023 season, Gomez ended his collegiate career with a 10-3 record and 119 strikeouts over 110 innings of work. In March, he set a career high in strikeouts with 11 in 7.2 innings and then fanned a team-high 12 batters in just six innings the following week.
Joining the Knights prior to the 2023 season from Jefferson University, Austin completed his first year at UCF with 10 relief appearances, highlighted by a five-strikeout performance in two shutout innings against Georgia Southern. The Holland, Pennsylvania, native recorded two punchouts in one inning of work to close out the Knights' combined one-hit shutout win at Bethune-Cookman.
As Austin and Gomez begin their post-UCF careers, they are set to join 10 Knights currently playing across Major League Baseball organizations. Entering the professional ranks with 2023 Colorado Rockies draft pick Ben McCabe, who will join former teammate Connor Staine in the Rockies organization, the duo raise the number of MLB organizations that are home to Knights to 12.
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