GAINESVILLE, Fla. _ Gators coach Dan Mullen's favorite baseball team is trying to steal his starting quarterback.
But Feleipe Franks is committed to playing football for the Gators rather than pursuing a baseball career with the Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox took a flier on Franks on Wednesday during the 31st round of the Major League Baseball draft. The 6-foot-6 Franks is a strong-armed former high school pitcher with a fastball in the low 90-mph range, but for now sees his athletic future under center for the Gators. The redshirt junior has started 21 games this past two seasons, including 13 for last year's 10-3 squad.
"I'm flattered that the Red Sox picked me this afternoon," Franks said via the school's football Twitter account. "However, I'm living out my dream being the QB of the Florida Gators. We're all working extremely hard this offseason and I cannot wait to hit the field this fall."
Franks is not the first Gator quarterback pursued by Red Sox, the storied franchise Mullen admired while growing up in neighboring New Hampshire.
Boston drafted Jeff Driskel, a former baseball standout at Oviedo's Hagerty High School, during the 29th round of the 2013 draft. Driskel currently is in his fourth season with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Franks enters his junior season after making dramatic strides during his first season under Mullen. Franks threw for 24 touchdowns after compiling just eight in 2017. He rushed for another seven scores in 2018.
Franks is not the only Gator drafted during the three-day MLB draft.
Four players were selected off of baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan's squad _ shortstop Brady McConnell (second round, Kansas City Royals), pitcher Tyler Dyson (fifth, Washington Nationals), right fielder Will Dalton (eighth, Boston) and outfielder Nelson Maldonado (21st, Chicago Cubs).
Florida top signee Riley Greene was the fifth pick in the draft, going to the Detroit Tigers.
