Gator Baseball 2024 OFFICIAL ROSTER/Transfer Tracker/Lineup???

I'll reinforce your comment on Donay's arm. He was in RF during scrimmages when he wasn't catching during the second half of the fall and I saw at least a couple of high quality throws to 2nd and third.

 

I enjoyed fall workouts this year differently from last year. Last fall, I told friends the '23 team would be very good and they earned their way to within inches of the title. With so many newcomers, I won't be so confident for '24, but there is a lot of talent and potential. I'm less certain than some members of our group about the opening day- or closing day- lineup and I'll bet there are significant changes between February and June. The top fall performers were the more experienced guys, but some younger guys may get hot enough to get on the field. Plus there will be an injury or two to keep us guessing, but there is good depth throughout the team.

Outfield: I agree with those who see Robertson starting in CF, but Guy's defense is a bit better and if he hits, he can push Mikey to LF. I felt Shelnut was the best hitter of the fall and has won a position, he can play the corners in both OF and IF and his OF defense is better than last year. Donay's bat and arm give him advantages for RF. Both Russell and Yost played a lot of OF and may well be starters on the '25 team. Wilson didn't surpass the older guys, but he contributed. Brookens appealed to me, but may have had the lowest fall BA on the team. I think he had as many hits in the final two weeks as he had the rest of the fall. Here's an edit to add Evans: He had a long, awful slump through more than the middle half of the season, but looked good on either end, especially the CWS. I feel the new guys create a very different environment, but an OF of Shelnut, Evans and Robertson could be a winner.

Infield: Cags is in the lineup and may become the top player in the country. He didn't put on the same power show this fall, but clearly was a better hitter. There are enough other people who can play 1B that he may end up doing more DH, but he is a solid fielder and it's nice to have a southpaw at 1B. Figuring out how to prepare him to balance being so important on both the mound and at bat will be what matters. 1B will be well played, even if Jac is watching from the dugout. Heyman, Shelnut and Garrison can play 1B at any time. Kurland looked more mature this fall and he actually should be a frosh. We had all the "He should be at prom" jokes I could stand last year. He filled out some and a year as an SEC starter surely made him better. I worry a little about the speed of his throws, but he seems able to agjust his throws and get the ball to first before the runner gets there. Shelton will do well next year because of his bat, but he seemed pretty steady on D. He doesn't have the speed, quickness or arm that Rivera showed, but he was consistent. Thomas did well with the bat, too, and was also solid in the field. I perceive him a tiny bit slower than Halter, but he is the top 3B at the end of fall. Russell, Martinez, Mummau and Albert can step in for 2B, 3B or SS and play defense, but the first two hit significantly better.

Catcher: Heyman, Garrison and Donay will make C a strength. Each also can play elsewhere. Their playing time will be determined by batting success. Without seeing stats, I put Heyman as third best fall hitter behing Cags and Shelnut, but the others hit adequately well. They'll share 1B and DH with Jac.

Pitching: Neely didn't grab a starting spot, but might do so when the season starts. I hope he ends up as closer. Peterson and Cags were the top pitchers for fall, probaably in that order. McNeillie or another frosh might be the third weekend starter. Rodriguez got some attention early, but didn't perform at the level of Peterson and McNeillie. Sadly, McDonald won't pitch this season. Menendez, Satin, Witmer and Clemente should get a lot of innings- including midweek and maybe weekend starts.I especially liked Jones' breaking balls that fooled a lot of fall hitters. Gomberg was very good at the end of fall and Philpot had some good innings. Purnell and Jameson had some good innings, but, like Neely, were banged around some. If they are consistent in the season, Gator pitching will be great. Sure would be nice to see a healthy Coppola.

Coaching: Best coaching in the college game.

Overall: The Gators will be deep everywhere in 2024, but will they have championship performances? In their few innings facing actual competition, they were MUCH better than their opponents. It would be nice if that were true all season.

 

No mention of Cade Fisher. How do you see him fitting in? I figured he would be a weekend guy after his freshman year

 

Good overview....have to add Fisher to the starting rotation, and Evans likely plays into the corner OF scenario

 

I was sure I was missing a potential starter. I looked at the roster to see who was missing, but I simply left out Fisher. He definitely was top three during the fall.

 

Man, you had me panicking. It's been about a week since I checked in on this board so I thought something might have happened to him recently after you left him out. Whew!

 

Excellent analysis. I agreed with everything except for your omission of Fisher. See you commented on him later. I’ve got to believe from the four scrimmages that I watched the five pitchers with the best chance of making the weekend rotation are Jac, Peterson, Fisher, Neely and McNeillie. Don’t think it will be determined until after spring ball.

 

They do this every year

 

Come on guys & gals—y’all know that they’ve got to sift through all of our notes, data, and stuff here on the board before they feel good about releasing anything…..

 

Shelton Adds Powerful Swing and Winning Attitude to Gators - Florida Gators

 

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Is Shelton eligible? I thought we had him for two years.

 

Per Colby Shelton - Baseball - University of Alabama Athletics, Shelton turns 21 next Wednesday. Anyone 21+ is eligible for the MLB. draft ("draft-eligible sophomore" is the usual term.)