Gulfport’s Ethan Surowiec turns breakout season into MLB Draft Combine opportunity

Just one year ago, Gulfport native Ethan Surowiec was putting together one of the best summers of his baseball career. Playing in the Northwoods League, Surowiec earned MVP honors after posting a stellar .383 batting average, .471 on-base percentage and .781 slugging percentage, signaling that his game had reached another level.

That success carried over into his sophomore season at the University of Florida. Surowiec became one of the Gators’ most productive hitters, leading the Orange and Blue with a .317 batting average while collecting 78 hits and driving in 63 runs. He credits his breakout season to enjoying the game and having the confidence of his coaching staff behind him.

“For me, I just try to have as much fun as I can just being with my teammates and just playing the game the way it should be, and ultimately I think if you do that, the game will reward you,” Surowiec said. “I really enjoyed my freshman year. It was a really humbling experience for me, and then going into summer ball and having some accolades there. When I transferred to Florida, I spent the whole year working hard and having coaches believing in me definitely changed my life, and I’m thankful for that.”

His standout season earned him an invitation to the 2026 MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix, Arizona, where some of the nation’s top draft prospects showcased their skills in front of Major League Baseball scouts and executives.

“I was actually just eating some breakfast one morning and I got an email that I got invited to the combine,” Surowiec said. “It was a pretty surreal moment because as a young kid I had dreams of playing professional baseball, and for me to get that invite was definitely pretty cool.”

Surowiec said the experience gave him a chance to see how he measures up against the rest of this year’s draft class.

“I went there and had a great time,” he said. “It shows you how you stack up against your fellow draft class, and it’s like another stepping stone in my career, and it’s hopefully getting me ready to play professional baseball.”

While he waits to MLB Draft fate, Surowiec has returned home to Gulfport, spending time giving back to the next generation of local baseball players through youth camps. He hopes sharing his journey encourages young athletes along the Mississippi Gulf Coast to chase their own dreams.

“It’s cool because I was that kid,” Surowiec said. “These kids may not know it yet, but they will be the upcoming generation of Gulfport athletics. I almost like to just inspire the young kids, and for them to be able to see someone that was in their shoes like me, I hope it gives them confidence that they can do this and stuff like that.”

From starring in the Northwoods League to emerging as one of Florida’s top hitters and earning a trip to the MLB Draft Combine, Surowiec’s baseball journey continues to trend upward. Now, the Gulfport standout is waiting for the next chapter: hearing his name called in the MLB Draft.