Gators in the Pros: Colby Halter Trying to Climb the Ladder in A’s System

MESA, Ariz. — Former Florida Gators infielder Colby Halter has demonstrated strong skills throughout his time in both college and professional baseball.

Halter, a Jacksonville native played, with the Florida Gators from 2021-23 as an infielder, primarily at third base.  Across three seasons, he posted a .259 batting average with 14 home runs and 85 RBIs in 171 games while maintaining a solid defensive presence. He helped Florida reach the championship round of the 2023 College World Series in Omaha.

He had an impressive summer with the Cape Cod League’s Falmouth Commodores in 2022, where he led his team in batting average and home runs, helping boost his draft stock. In the 2023 MLB Draft, the Oakland Athletics selected him in the 17th round (496th overall), and he has since begun his professional career within their minor league system. Halter finished last season with the High-A Lansing Lugnuts in the Midwest League, where he hit .258 with three homers and 24 RBIs in 66 games.

As he attempts to climb the minor-league ladder in the A’s organization, Halter continues to build on the skills that made him a standout at Florida. Halter will start the 2025 season with the Double-A Midland RockHounds in Midland, Texas.

Sports@CJC spoke with Halter in March at the Athletics’ spring training facility at Hohokam Stadium to talk about his time with the Gators, the adjustments to playing in the minors and more.  

1. What was your ‘welcome to pro ball’ moment?

Halter: After I got drafted, we had a little break after the (College) World Series, maybe like two weeks or something. But it was a long year. We’d been going for a long time. And then you come out to Arizona, do all your physicals, all that stuff, and sign. And, obviously, it’s like a dream come true. You’ve wanted to do it your whole life.

I don’t know if you ever been to Phoenix in the summer, but it was like 120 degrees for, I think, 30 days straight or something. So that was nuts. You’re playing in the backfield games to start.

But when I went up to Lansing, you know, the first week we were playing the Dodgers (affiliate, the Great Lakes Loons). They had probably three or four lefties throwing like 97, so that was a tough first week. Ooh my gosh. This was going to be, like, all year? But, you know, just everyone’s super talented, and we have a lot of good people at the A’s.

2. When did you know you wanted to play professional baseball?

Halter: I mean, you have a career day in kindergarten where you dress up as what you want to be, and I was wearing baseball pants and a jersey. So, I’ve wanted to do this my whole life.

3. When did you realize playing at this level was a real possibility?
 
Halter: My parents were always huge supporters of me. They never told me I couldn’t do anything, so I always thought it was a possibility.

4. What’s your favorite moment from your time with the Gators?

Halter: We had so much fun. Probably Omaha my junior year. That team was super close—we spent three years building up to that point, and getting there was really special.

5. What former teammates are you still close with? Who’s in your group chat?

Halter: A lot of us are really tight. My roommates—Wyatt Langford, Brian Slater, Luke Heyman—are my closest friends. BT (Riopelle) is a good friend, and Sterlin Thompson and a bunch of other guys. We’re all pretty close.

6. What was the biggest adjustment from playing with the Gators to playing in professional baseball?

Halter: In the SEC, we faced really good competition all the time, so that part wasn’t a huge jump. The biggest adjustment is just playing every single day. In college, you have a weekend series and maybe a midweek game or two. But in pro ball, you’re playing 130 games a season. Keeping your body right and learning how to manage that grind is the biggest thing.

7. What players did you look up to growing up?

Halter: As a Gator, Tim Tebow for sure. But I watched the baseball team too like Austin Langworthy, Mike Rivera, J.J. Schwarz, all those guys from the 2017 team. Dalton Guthrie, too. They were all good dudes.

8. What’s been the biggest challenge in the minors so far?

Halter: Getting adjusted to playing every day, for sure. And then, some of the cities we travel to aren’t exactly glamorous. In the SEC, you’re flying on private jets. In the minors, you’re taking long bus trips.

9. Do you have a favorite moment with the Athletics organization yet?

Halter: I’ve got a bunch. I think what you really remember isn’t just specific moments, but the journey of being together all the time. You spend more time with your teammates than with your family, and that’s what sticks with you the most.

More Gators in the Pros:
* A.J. Puk Starting to Feel Comfortable in Deep D’backs ‘Pen
* Dane Dunning on Winning a World Series, His Time With UF
* Hurston Waldrep Working on Getting Back to ‘The Show’ in Atlanta

Category: Athletics, Cactus League, Gators in the Pros, Top Stories