2025 roster projection

Why not a video of Ann Margret instead?

 

She was in the movie and in the clip, but sang other songs, like this one: .
Other good ones are like this:
and this:

 

D1Bsb's top 85 transfer pitchers lis got to Barlow.

43. Billy Barlow, RHP (Clemson to Florida)

As usual, Kevin O’Sullivan’s Gators will have no shortage of arms entering the 2025 campaign. Barlow, a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder, is a solid addition to that group. Barlow made 10 starts and appeared in 15 games for Clemson last season, tallying a 4.28 ERA in 48.1 innings, along with 42 strikeouts and 20 walks. There’s more juice in the tank with Barlow’s arm, but last season, he was primarily 90-92 mph with his fastball, along with a mid-80s slider and 82-84 mph changeup. ​

 

UF is not all that far behind when it comes to baseball NIL. Obviously not at A&M’s level but in the next grouping of SEC teams including TN, LSU, ARK and a couple of others. Yes, it could be better but let’s not make it sound like UF is handing out scraps.

 

The Gator NIL collective isn't even ranked in the Top 20. Even Kansas & SMU are ahead of us. We have the money and are giving out a lot of NIL deals, but it's more like participation trophies in Little League instead of really trying to bring in the best talent.
TOP 20 NIL Collectives

 

My first visit to Mark Light was for a regional game vs Minnesota in 1994. Unfortunately we took a beating and the canes fans were out in force. Ugly people in more ways than one.

 

GC—

It must be a tradition-they were that way in 1973 too……

 

But in 2024, the crowd was 20+% Gators and the scUM fans that were there were surprisingly mild.

 

I was there a few years back and the Canes sitting around me actually expected to lose. Quite a change from the obnoxious crowds of their heydays. Losing does that to you.

 

Lurker there is an old video of Ann Margaret on the Johnny Carson show. She could really shake it!

 

Yes she could!!!

 

JD, I agree that we need to continue to grow our NIL in order to compete with the big boys. But because of misconceptions among our fan base, just wanted to point out that UF baseball has been very competitive in paying NIL money the past few seasons.

 

So, thinking this through:

1. Figure that Kurland is going to play more or less every day and he's a 2B-only player.
2. Shelton is going to play more or less every day and, barring some defensive meltdown, there's no reason to move him off SS.
3. I assume Kyle Jones is more or less locked in as center fielder and leadoff hitter.
4. I also assume Ty Evans, if healthy, will occupy one of the corner outfield spots on a more or less everyday basis.

That does help slot in the rest of the lineup.

If the chatter about Blake Cyr spending time in the outfield is true, he'll probably occupy the other corner outfield spot across from Evans. I assume Heyman and Donay will keep splitting time at catcher, with both also getting time at first base and DH (especially Donay). That would seem to make third base the easiest place for Boser to slide into the lineup.

The rest is just a matter of how much playing time Nadeau, Stripling and Lawson can force O'Sullivan to give them. There's a lot of positional flexibility with that trio and Boser.

 

Excellent analysis and presumptions, IMO. To me it's all going to come down to pitching. A few proven arms are coming back, but a lot of unproven arms have to step up in a big way for us to compete for a championship. Looking forward to another fun season.

 

Yeah, at this point all you can really do is hope for breakouts from Peterson, Coppola and Clemente. Which isn't the unlikeliest thing to hope for, but it's a bit of a thin reed.

 

I've only seen three scrimmages so this is probably a way-too-early analysis but I think Nadeau is a lock for a starter at this point. He's impressed me far more than guys like Cyr or many of our returners. He looks like one of the best contact hitters on the team. He fouls off pitches and seems to have a great eye at the plate. I know it wasn't against SEC competition but it's clear to me that he hit .395 during the 2024 season for a reason. The only question for me is where he plays on defense. He's been playing a lot of CF despite being listed as an infielder but I don't know if a single ball has been hit in his direction.

Speaking of CF, do we know why Jones hasn't been playing? I assume it's some sort of injury.