ATLANTA – A day removed from shortstop Antonio Jimenez being drafted in the third round by the New York Mets, four more UCF Knights were selected during day two of the 2025 MLB Draft on Monday.
Second baseman Edian Espinal was taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 10th round, while right-handed pitcher Alex Galvan was picked in the 13th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, catcher Dylan King was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 17th round and right-handed pitcher Angelo Smith was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 19th round.
Jimenez, Espinal, Galvan, King and Smith give the Black and Gold five Major League Draftees this year—the most selected since 2018 when six Knights were drafted. The five total draftees up UCF’s total to 131 players drafted in program history.
After Jimenez was taken as the 102nd selection of the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday, Espinal was pick number 309 on Monday, while Galvan was 393, King 504 and Smith 529.
The switch-hitting Espinal had a strong start to his first season at the NCAA Division I level as he got off to an impressive start by hitting over .500 through the first month to lead the nation in batting at one point. He finished the season with a .335 clip and 17 extra-base hits, 41 runs scored, 37 RBIs, 21 walks and 11 stolen bases. He also posted a .470 slugging percentage and a .434 on-base clip. In 51 games played and 46 starts (33 starts at second base and 13 at designated hitter), the native of Canovanas, Puerto Rico, recorded a 14-game hitting streak in 2025 as well as a 28-game reached base safely streak. He also posted 19 multiple-hit games and 11 multiple-RBI ones. He capped his season by earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors and was drafted as a catcher by the Tigers.
Espinal played his freshman and sophomore seasons at the Junior College level at Chipola College. He earned first team All-Panhandle Conference accolades both years. Espinal played his high school ball at Viera HS in Melbourne, Florida, and his brother, Alan Espinal, currently plays in the Minor Leagues for the Colorado Rockies.
The fifth-year senior Galvan played his final two years of college baseball for the Black and Gold in 2024 and 2025. After having his 2024 season cut short due to injury, the hard-throwing right-hander had a strong 2025 campaign in which he posted a 2.86 ERA over 17 relief appearances. He also limited opposing batters to a stellar .202 batting average and tied for the team lead in saves with two. Galvan struck out 38 batters while allowing just nine earned runs over 28.1 innings.
Galvan began his college career at Louisville where he pitched from 2021 to 2023 for the Cardinals. He limited opposing batters to a .175 average during his junior year in 2023.
Galvan hails from Brielle, New Jersey, and prepped at Manasquan High School.
With a solid season both offensively and defensively, King became UCF’s everyday catcher as well as one of the top catchers in the Big 12 in 2025 by starting 40 games behind the plate which included finishing the season by catching 19 consecutive games. King hit .326 this spring with nine home runs, 13 doubles, two triples, 34 runs scored and 34 runs batted in. With 24 extra-base hits, he finished second on the team in both slugging and on-base percentage with respective tallies of .652 and .442. He also threw out seven would-be base stealers on the season and recorded 318 putouts, 23 assists and a .977 fielding percentage.
The 2025 season marked King’s redshirt junior campaign and his second year at UCF. In 2024 in Orlando, King played in 23 games with 10 starts behind the plate. He slashed .213/.315/.298 with a .992 fielding percentage.
King spent his first two years at North Carolina, where he redshirted the 2022 campaign and slashed .250/.417/.438 in 12 games for the Tar Heels in 2023.
King is from Delray Beach, Florida, where he was a four-year letterwinner for American Heritage Delray. King’s father, Brad King, was also selected in the 17th round out of UCF in 1996 by the Chicago Cubs.
After spending two years at JUCO Indian River State College, Smith came to UCF prior to the 2025 season. The right-hander had a solid inaugural year in Orlando as he led the team with a 2.83 ERA over 14 appearances. Smith posted a 1-1 record and a save while striking out 24 batters and giving up just nine earned runs over 28.2 innings. He held opposing hitters to a .250 average and tallied seven scoreless outings on the year.
Prior to UCF, Smith put up good numbers for Indian River State by compiling a 9-3 record over two seasons. He also struck out 80 batters during his sophomore year over 66.1 innings and helped his team reach the JUCO Final Four.
Smith hails from Coral Springs, Florida, where he attended Coral Glades High School.
UCF’S 2025 MLB DRAFT PICKS
Antonio Jimenez – 3rd Round, Pick 102 – New York Mets
Edian Espinal – 10th Round, Pick 309 – Detroit Tigers
Alex Galvan – 13th Round, Pick 393 – Arizona Diamondbacks
Dylan King – 17th Round, Pick 504 – Cincinnati Reds
Angelo Smith – 18th Round, Pick 529 – Los Angeles Angels
About UCF Athletics
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida’s preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as “Orlando’s Hometown Team”. To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.