2025 roster projection

There's still some time left, but we had one of the worst pitching staffs in the nation last year, and walking away from the transfer portal with Billy Barlow and a JUCO pitcher who walked a batter per inning is not what I was dreaming of.

 

After Ross was drafted yesterday along with reports he was looking for a fairly low bonus number, the writing was on the wall.

 

We need help. In Sully we trust but hoping for good news this week.

 

Question, with the players per team numbers going from 40 down to the low to mid 30s in 2025, could this potentially reduce the number of transfers each year?

I get that each player and their futures are a one by one decision, but as a whole I would think we might see less players leaving each year if they have less competition per team and even less openings on other teams. Less players per team could lead to smaller schools becoming more competitive from the trickle down effect.

Sure NIL money will always be a greater pull for players that have little success or getting less pay in one place or another. At the same time, coaches will have fewer extras on the team and must push the players they have to succeed. Still we seem to lose 8 to 10 players a year, some you hate to see them go. Overall, I do hope fewer players will lead to less players transferring for the greater good of team development.

 

From the Evans returning article. Has Shelton confirmed he is returning despite being drafted in round 20?

"Evans' return to Gainesville is very significant for the Gators, who are also set to bring back shortstop Colby Shelton, catcher Luke Heyman and left-handed pitcher Pierce Coppola, all of whom were draft-eligible this year."

 

Don’t know about formerly but he rejoined the Cape Cod team after the draft signaling he’s coming back. Or that was my take anyway.

 

Within 3-4 years, we'll see the results of the scholly change and I feel certain some results will be completely unexpected. From my blind optimist perspective, I see Gators having some important advantages: top-level competition, great weather, nearly every game on TV, top academics (matters a lot to some guys), top facilities and team resources. We will get some guys who ended up at mid-major programs that offered more scholly support.

I don't see much change in the turnover every year. If overall squad size is reduced, there will be somewhat less competition for some positions, but by May, there normally will be set rotations in both pitching staff and position players. While there always will be guys who wait until postseason to get hot, there will be writing on the wall for half a dozen or so. I hope these sentences make sense: With a smaller overall squad, there will be fewer players left out of regular play, but there still will be only nine starters. The quality, rather than quantity, of available subs still will be a bigger factor on who gets playing time.

 

Anyone have anything on LHP Mason Laurito supposed to be committed to the Gators from 247sports.com?

 

x.com

He's from Ocala Forest. Freshman year at Gulf Coast State College, started 11 games, 2-1 record, 32.1 IP, 3.34 ERA, 42 K's, 1.61 WHIP.

 

That is an exceptionally high WHIP for a 3.34 ERA. Must have been good at stranding runners and avoiding self-made disasters. Not sure if I like that or not. If you walk a lot of batters in the SEC then teams will make you pay. I’ll take all the lefties we can get though.

 

Jenkins and Laurito both had serious control issues at the JUCO level last year. I guess the coaching staff is betting that they can harness the big arms and get them to throw strikes. It's a theory, I suppose.

 

LANDING SPOTS FOR SOME OF THE KIDS WHO TRANSFERRED OUT:


Transferring:
Fisher - P - TRANSFERRING (AUBURN)
Robertson - OF - TRANSFERRING (LIBERTY)
Russell - P/OF - TRANSFERRING (STETSON)
Satin - P - TRANSFERRING (UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA)
Whitmer - P - TRANSFERRING (FAU)
Smith - P - TRANSFERRING (TULANE)
Martinez - INF - TRANSFERRING (FAU)
Jones - P - TRANSFERRING
Mummau - INF - TRANSFERRING (JACKSONVILLE)

 

Baseball America did a write-up with another way too early top 25 - they mention Tanner Garrison as a returner. I thought he was done. Does anyone know if he still has eligibility. He was class of 2019 so he has been in college 5 years (not that that means anything these days).

2. Florida (36-30, 13-17)
The Gators undeniably had a down season for much of 2024, as they flirted with a losing record. And, yet, Florida ended the season as one of the last four teams playing. It took some big losses from that team, as All-American Jac Caglianone and closer Brandon Neely moved on to pro ball. But Florida is set to have another elite roster in 2025.

Shortstop Colby Shelton, catcher/first baseman Luke Heyman and outfielder Ty Evans are all back after being draft eligible in 2024. Second baseman Cade Kurland returns, as do catcher Brody Donay and Tanner Garrison. The Gators have to rebuild their pitching staff a bit, but righthander Liam Peterson is back after spending his entire freshman year in the rotation. Lefthander Pierce Coppola should be closer to full strength after returning in mid-season, while righthander Jake Clemente looks ready to make a jump. Florida also has an exciting group of newcomers, led by outfielders Blake Cyr (Miami) and Kyle Jones (Stetson).

 

They may have intended to name Heyman, rather than Garrison, which would make sense. Garrison definitely is gone.

 

Boser is a big get. Really gives O'Sullivan some flexibility to fill holes with a high-quality player.

Love the offense going into next year, assuming Shelton returns. Even with Caglianone gone, it's a really deep lineup with a lot of versatility. Excited to see it.

The pitching staff...well, here's hoping you get leaps from Peterson, Clemente and Coppola.

 

A few Gators on the Cape Cod All Star East team.

All-Star Game Preview: Getting to know the 2024 East Division team | Cape Cod Baseball League

 

Taking a look at Florida baseball’s transfer class | GatorCountry.com
I thought we would get more pitching help from the portal. And we sure have a lot of infielders now!!

 

Sully is best known for his handling of pitchers and preparing them for the pros. I am disappointed that there isn't this one stud transfer that sees an opportunity to be a weekend starter here.

 

Legit SEC starters are few and far between in the portal. They’re expensive. We’ve lost the guy we hoped to challenge for a role two years in a row to the draft.