2025 roster projection

D1Baseball loves lists. The newest is the Top 150 college draft prospects, which names six Gators:

63 Colby Shelton SS Florida SEC
79 Jake Clemente RHP Florida SEC
101 Pierce Coppola LHP Florida SEC
113 Blake Cyr UTL Florida SEC
125 Cade Kurland 2B Florida SEC ​

That ties Gators with Virginia behind LSU (9), Tennessee (8) and Arkansas, Oklahoma and Wake Forest (7 apiece). SEC leads the top ten, with five choices, ACC has three, plus a Big West guy and an indepentent from Oregon State.

 

Landon Russell was a 2024 guy I hoped would develop, but apparently, he was our trade to Stetson for Kyle Kones. D1Bsb reports:

Florida transfer Landon Russell is in center field, and he can also pitch out of the bullpen. In a sense, Russell changed places with the aforementioned Kyle Jones, who is now a Florida Gator. “Landon is arguably our fastest player, and he has the best outfield arm we’ve had in at least 10 years,” Trimper said. “He also has a little more pop than I thought. He could be our leadoff batter.”
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Salvy Alvarez was a 2023 Gator C who never got into a game, but now has a shot at being a regular at Stetson.

 

Speaking of catchers, what is the story on this guy? It says 2025, so I am guessing he is currently a senior in high school?

Breaking News; No. 1 top-rated A 5-foot-10, 175 pounds Catcher Calep Odom from Alabama Shocks Ole Miss With Decommitment Flips Commitment to Gators Over LSU, Tennessee and... - Sport Nexus

 

Kind of weird that they put his measurements in the title, esp since they aren't that great.

 

You've been spoiled by newspapers and magazines created by experienced and college-trained journalists. Online publications and podcasts can be created by anyone who reached tenth grade and can afford a decent computer. Professional editors usually have a decent command of grammar, syntax and sentence structure that we see less often from creators of new online news sites. The tradeoff is more content, which is somewhat less readable, but substance generally is more important than style.

 

A google search for "Calep Odom" turns up only two results, which are basically this same story. (There's a Caleb Odom, a WR who is moving from Alabama to Ole Miss.) My guess is some AI thing, not a real player.

 

Good catch. The article also lists Tyler Shelnut in our 25 recruiting class.

 

Yeah I saw that when I did a search as well, but that weird website goes into detail about it with quotes from Sully.
I figured it sounded too good to be true.

 

2025 Roster Posted
2025 Baseball Roster - Florida Gators

 

Listened to two different interviews with Coach and here's what the starters and staff will look like.

C - Heyman
1B - Lawson
2B - Kurland
SS - Shelton
3B - Boser
LF - Cyr
CF - Jones
RF - Evans
DH - Donay

Top Reserves - Wilson, Yost, Stripling, Nadeau

Coach talked a lot about depth and how we might not see the same lineup twice early on. Expect Wilson, Yost, Stripling, and Nadeau to get a lot playing time and obviously Donay will catch and play some 1B too.

Starters - Peterson/Clemente/Coppola
Main Relievers - Philpott, McNellie, Barlow, King, Menendez

Sounded like Philpott would get the first crack at closer, but still up in the air. Really talked up the freshman King. Said he could start on the weekends if needed or maybe close.

 

There's your "circle of trust"... the eight pitchers Sully beleives he can call on to deliver. I've heard him speak highly of newbie King and I've seen King pitch twice in scrimmages-- hoping he can find consistency with that wicked splitter he throws. When he's on, it's tough to hit. From my experience, Clemente is our top SP but we shall soon see. LP has amazing stuff but can he handle the Friday night role? Philpott has the closer role and it's his to lose. We need the pitchers to take a major leap forward in performance over last year and I expect they will.

 

77—

Where do you see McNeille fitting in the mix?

 

Id be interesting in hearing his opinion on McNellie as well. To my eye, he flashed some starter/closer potential last year.

 

GR—

That’s the exact basis for my question.

 

Thanks guys, to be upfront, I was convinced going into the season that McNeillie would be the closer this year - taking over for Neely. But from intel, Philpott seems to have gained Sully's trust as the "closer" - at least it is his job to lose. That may change as season progresses but I assume that would leave McN. and Menendez as set up guys gobling up middle innings. Mc.N has SP stuff so he can be someone to gobble up 3-4 middle innings when the SP falters. Things will not doubt evolve as we move along in the season. But I wish all the guys huge success in whatever role they're assigned!

 

8 of the 13 position players listed started their careers at other D1 schools. Welcome to 2025.

 

I'm happy to see that the list of trusted pitchers includes only one freshman. I think there are several frosh arms that will see innings this season and some of those will be real contributors, but that will be in addition to the more experienced core group. There are plenty of young players on the squad and some will break into the lineup, but it appears this will be a group of old guys who are stronger and more physically mature than some past seasons.

 

Agree. Tough for true freshman to compete with the older college players today. With NIL, COVID year, and the new ruling that JUCO years don't count college players just keep getting older. Hayden Schott of A&M is about to turn 25. Juan Soto is 26.

 

mk—

I haven’t seen this on JUCO until now—can you elaborate on this, when and how it happened?