Brotherly Love: Gators Relying On Jud And Deric Fabian

“It wasn’t a very hard decision,” Jud said. “Getting to play with your brother (freshman Deric) on the D1 level, it’s something we grew up wanting to do. Coming back wasn’t a hard decision for me.”

Jud Fabian/UAA Photo

By KYLE CURTIS

GatorBait.com Intern

Jud Fabian has had an explosive start for the Florida Gators baseball team. After being named part of the pre-season All-American team, Fabian has led the Gators to a promising start in one of the most powerful offenses in the country.

And going through the ultra-competitive gauntlet starting with Georgia on Thursday, Coach Kevin O’Sullivan needed that pop in his bat. Heading into the game vs. the Bulldogs, Florida ranked third in the country with 49 home runs through 25 games trailing only Mercer and Tennessee.

Fabian accounted for 10 of those 25 home runs. He has also had a staggering 24 walks through 25 games showing how much respect opposing pitchers have for him.

Fabian recently had the opportunity to head to the MLB after being drafted in this past draft. Jud decided he wanted to stay in Gainesville despite others thinking he would go to the draft and leave school early.

“It wasn’t a very hard decision,” Jud said. “Getting to play with your brother (freshman Deric) on the D1 level, it’s something we grew up wanting to do. Coming back wasn’t a hard decision for me.”

Both the Fabian brothers have now been starters and major contributors for the Gators this year. Deric is the starting 3rd baseman and has shown sparks of what he is capable of in the next few years in Gainesville.

“It’s hard to put into words how awesome it is,” Jud said. “Every day you get to go the field you have your little brother, and you get to show him the ropes on how to do things.”

With both the Fabian brothers leading the charge for the Gators they were able to get back on track with a win against Florida State after dropping a series to LSU. After winning the opening game, they dropped the next two vs. the Tigers by large margins.

The road does not get easier for the Gators.

In the next four weekends the Gators have four straight series against ranked SEC opponents. They will travel to Athens this weekend to face Georgia. followed by series against: Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and top-ranked Tennessee.

Looking at another way, Jud -- the senior member of the #OcalaPowerCompany – there is ample opportunity for a course correction and a chance for the Gators to find their groove by taking down some of the best competition the nation has to offer.