With the spring season nearing its dawn, Florida baseball is back for vengeance.
The No. 10-ranked Gators had a 2024 season filled with twists and turns.
UF started the season as the No. 2 team in the nation, but following a disappointing stretch during the middle of its campaign, barely snuck its way into its second-straight College World Series.
The Gators, however, had some fight left in the tank when they entered Omaha, miraculously winning the Stillwater Regional and the Clemson Super Regional.
UF made it all the way to the tournament semifinals before they fell to eventual runner-up and fellow SEC foe Texas A&M.
However, with a roster that returns plenty of production, the Gators are geared up for the 2025 season, which kicks off Friday with the opening bout of a three-game home series against Air Force.
For the Gators, the 2025 hype all started when a group of veterans decided to bypass the pros in order to return to don the Orange and Blue yet again.
Among the returnees were junior shortstop Colby Shelton, who bypassed being drafted in the 20th round in the MLB draft by the Washington Nationals, as well as junior catcher Luke Heyman, redshirt junior pitcher Pierce Coppola and senior outfielder Ty Evans.
“Getting those guys back was huge for us, not just because of all their experience, but their leadership,” said Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan, who returns for his 18th year at the helm for UF.
In all, the Gators returned 17 total players from their 2024 roster, with Heyman and Shelton being named Preseason All-SEC Second Team, while junior second baseman Cade Kurland was named to the Preseason All-SEC First Team.
O’Sullivan also hit the transfer portal, bringing in nine transfers to bolster the roster. Among the notable additions likely to make an immediate impact are junior left fielder Blake Cyr, senior third baseman Bobby Boser and sophomore center fielder Kyle Jones.
However, there are big shoes to fill in the Gators lineup.
Two-way player Jac Caglianone, who ended his career as UF’s all-time leader in home runs with 75, was drafted sixth overall in the MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals after a monstrous 35 home run season in 2024.
“You’re not going to be able to replace Jac with one person,” O’Sullivan said.
However, O’Sullivan feels the additions to the lineup, as well as the key returners, will ultimately lend a more consistent lineup from top to bottom.
It’s not just the coaching staff who feels the lineup is improved, however.
“It’s the most depth we’ve had in my time here by far,” said Evans. “I feel like this team just has a lot of baseball players and a lot of grinders.”
Evans also said that in 2024, it felt at times that the team was far too reliant on power, but now, he feels they will adapt and change to win in different ways.
The Gators aren’t just strong at the plate, however. UF returns seven pitchers who took the mound last season, including sophomore right-hander Liam Peterson, redshirt sophomore righty Jake Clemente and Coppola.
Peterson and Clemente will take the mound for the Gators on Friday and Saturday, respectively, while Coppola will make his first opening weekend start since his freshman year on Sunday.
“I’m excited to get back out there and hopefully start and end the season,” said Coppola, who has struggled with back and shoulder injuries throughout his time at UF.
Meanwhile, Evans, who has lived with Coppola for four years in Gainesville, had nothing but compliments for his teammate.
“There’s no one who deserves this more,” said Evans.
With the expectations high and the Friday night lights soon to hit, O’Sullivan boiled it down.
“You have to have talent, you have to have leadership, and you have to have experience… we have all three,” he said.
