State of the Florida program: Baseball
The ending was ever so disappointing. The Gators were hot, the No. 8 seed for the NCAA Tournament and a fast track path to the College World Series in Omaha. Well, somebody forgot to tell Troy that it was supposed to roll over and die. The last team to make the NCAA field of 64 teams, Troy made a mockery of the selection committee by rebounding from a first game loss to Miami by taking the Gainesville Regional, pounding Florida into submission two straight games to advance to a super regional. It is little consolation to Kevin O’Sullivan and the Gators that Troy won the super regional and made a strong showing in Omaha.
The Gators finished the 2026 season 41-21 with 15 of those losses to teams that made the NCAA Tournament. Of the teams that made the College World Series, Florida went 2-1 against Oklahoma, which will play North Carolina in the championship series, and 2-1 against No. 3 seed Georgia, which lost to Oklahoma in the semifinals.
This was a Jekyll and Hyde type of season for the Gators. When they were good they were very, very good. The Gators swept Florida State, went 3-0 against Miami and 3-0 against Arkansas in Fayette-Nam. When the Gators weren’t on their A-games, they lost two out of three to High Point and midweek games to Jacksonville and Bethune-Cookman. In SEC play, they dropped two-out-of-three weekend series to Auburn, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
Offensively, the Gators were very good but the pitching and defense left plenty to be desired. Other than Aidan King the Gators didn’t have a consistent weekend starter. The bullpen was often hit and miss. Typically one of the elite defensive teams in the country, the Gators fielded at a .972 percentage, which ranked 130th nationally.
To solve some of the issues, O’Sullivan made a change in his staff, bringing in Rich Dorman from Oregon State, considered by most experts to be one of the elite pitching coaches in the country. Dorman’s Oregon State staff led the nation with a 3.22 ERA. Florida hasn’t had an ERA that low since the COVID-shortened 2020 season (2.41).
Florida will lose some talent to graduation/Major League Baseball Draft such as starting pitcher Liam Peterson (projected first round), left fielder Blake Cyr, center fielder Kyle Jones (could go second or third round) and catcher Karson Bowen. The Gators have lost 10 in the portal but the only player of significance is Cade Kurland, who has transferred to LSU.
O’Sullivan returns 18 veterans from the 2026 team including All-Americans King, Caden McDonald and Brendan Lawson along with leading hitter Ethan Surowiec. He’s added five players already from the portal including John Embury from Florida Gulf Coast, considered the best catcher in the portal; Oregon State freshman lefty Trey Morris; Jacksonville State relief specialist Maddox McDougal; and a pair of defensive stalwarts in John Martinez (2B/3B) from Florida Atlantic and Kyle McDaniel (2B) from Utah Tech.
Of the 14 incoming freshmen, the Gators could very well lose Kevin Roberts Jr. (OF/RHP), Brady Harris (CF), Brady Snow (RHP) and Cameron Hanes (RHP/1B) in the Major League Baseball Draft, but it is a solid class that addresses the need for lefty pitching, outfielders who can run and hit with power, and infield defense.
Here is a look at the way the roster stands on June 19, 2026:
RETURNING PLAYERS
Pitchers (8)
Caden McDonald, RHP/1B/DH, RJR: Second team All-American two-way player. As a pitcher he appeared in 20 games, posting a 5-1 record with one save and a 3.42 ERA. Struck out 48 with just eight walks in 47-1/3 innings. As the plate he hit .319 in 98 at-bats with nine doubles, nine home runs and 28 RBI. Career 9-1 record on the mound, .316 batting average.
Aidan King, RHP, JR: All-American and SEC Pitcher of the Year after an 8-2 campaign with a 3.21 ERA. Career 15-4 record with a 2.92 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 160-1/3 innings. Only 42 walks given up.
Jackson Barberi, RHP, JR: Made 19 relief appearances in 2026 with a 5-2 record, 3.13 ERA and two saves. Was 2-1 as a freshman with five starts and 20 total appearances. Stuck out 96 in 69-2/3 innings over two seasons.
Blaine Rowland, RHP, RSO: Injured in 2026, took a redshirt. As a freshman appeared in eight games with a 1-0 record, 3.21 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 14 innings.
Josh Whritenour, RHP, RSO: Became Florida’s closer as a freshman when he was credited with seven saves, a 4-4 record and a 5.40 ERA. Struck out 49 in 36-2/3 innings.
Schuyler Sanford, RHP, RSO: Made two starts while pitching in 12 games. Posted a 2-0 record with a 4.90 ERA. Struck out 23 in 20 innings.
Jackson Hoyt, LHP, SO: Pitched in seven games as a freshman with a 13.50 ERA. Had eight strikeouts in 7-2/3 innings.
Minjae Seo, RHP, RFR: Injured in 2026, took a redshirt.
Catchers (1)
AJ Malzone, RJR: Juco transfer who played in only one game due to injury.
Infielders (5)
Landon Stripling, 1B, SR: In 38 games hit .289 with six homers and 17 RBI. Started 34 games at first base.
Ethan Surowiec, 3B/1B, JR: The only Gator to play and start every game. Hit .317 with 12 home runs and 63 RBI after transferring to Florida from Ole Miss. Power hitter who gets on base. Not a great fielder at third, might be moved to first next season.
Brendan Lawson, SS, JR: Hit .312 with 18 home runs and 49 RBI last season. Career .315, 29 home runs, 109 RBI. All-SEC and second team All-America.
Colton Schwarz, 2B/3B, SO: Played in 23 games with 18 starts. Hit .226 with 10 RBI.
Nic Partridge, SS, RFR: Didn’t see action in 2026.
Outfielders (4)
Hayden Yost, SR: Came on strong in the last third of the 2026 season, finishing with a .262 batting average with 10 home runs and 23 RBI. Career .264 with 14 homers and 65 RBI. Plays both right and center field.
Jadan Bastian, RJR: Tore an ACL last fall and took a redshirt. The heir apparent to Kyle Jones in center field. In two seasons at JU he hit .288 with 17 homers and 58 RBI. Stole 47 bases and was caught stealing only four times.
Cash Strayer, SO: Injuries curtailed his freshman season but in 32 games hit .272 with four home runs and 26 RBI.
Jacob Kendall, SO: In 31 games as a freshman hit .190 with two home runs and 12 RBI.
INCOMING TRANSFERS (5)
Kyle McDaniel, Utah Tech, 2B, JR: Second team All-WAC after a junior season in which he hit .345 with seven home runs, 52 RBI, 17 doubles, 17 stolen bases and 43 walks. Struck out only 27 times.
John Embury, Florida Gulf Coast, C, SO: The top catcher transfer in the country after a season in which he hit .364 with 17 homers and 64 RBI. Career numbers .320 with 26 home runs and 93 RBI. Home is Venice, FL.
Maddox McDougal, Jacksonville State, RHP, SO: Reliever who pitched in 26 games, compiling a 5-0 record with a 2.76 ERA. In two seasons at Jax State 38 appearances with seven starts, 9-3 record and a 3.79 ERA. From Wesley Chapel, FL.
Trey Morris, Oregon State, LHP, FR: Followed new pitching coach Rich Dorman to Florida after a freshman season that he went 7-0 with a 1.89 ERA. In 59 innings struck out 67 batters and walked only 15.
John Martinez, Florida Atlantic, 2B/3B, JR: Career .290 hitter who plays both sides of the infield. In 112 games at FAU he hit eight home runs and drove in 69.
INCOMING FRESHMEN
Kevin Roberts Jr., of/RHP: No. 36 prospect by Baseball America; No. 94 by Yahoo Sports. Just Baseball ranks him as the No. 19 high school prospect in the nation. Hit 10 home runs and drove in 34 while hitting .396 as a senior at Jackson (MS) Prep. Career 9-1 record with 3.05 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 57-1/3 innings. Size (6-5, 220), speed and athleticism (4-sport athlete) make him an almost certain first or second rounder.
Brady Harris, OF: Ranked No. 58 prospect by Baseball America; No. 160 by MLB.com; No. 141 by Yahoo Sports. Career .326 hitter with 14 home runs and 69 RBI at Jacksonville Trinity Christian. Center fielder with gap-to-gap speed and a strong enough arm to play right field.
Brady Snow, RHP: Ranked No. 168 prospect by MLB.com; No. 30 by Prep Baseball Report; No. 196 by Yahoo Sports. No. 62 high school prospect by Just Baseball. Miami Herald Pitcher of the Year at American Heritage. Throws in the mid-to-high 90s.
Colin White, LHP: Mid-90s fast ball but the curve is his out pitch. Grew from lanky 6-3, 170 to 6-4, 210 in the last year. Ranked the No. 6 lefty pitcher in the country by Perfect Game.
Keaton Neal, SS/RHP: Ranked as the No. 126 prospect by Baseball America. Belongs on the left side of the infield whether at shortstop or third base. Excellent defender who will develop as a power hitter. Throws low 90s on the mound. From Olathe, Kansas. Long, lean (6-3, 170) frame that will fill out.
Lorenzo Laurel, OF: Career .322 hitter for Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, the state’s pre-eminent high school baseball power. Contact hitter with outstanding outfield range and strong throwing arm.
Cameron Hanes, RHP/1B: No. 40 prospect by Baseball America out of TNXL Academy in Orange County. Regularly hits 93-94 mph with his fast ball, nice slider, too. Big kid (6-4, 205) who hits for power.
Carter Cox, LHP: Led Venice to the state 7A title with a 13-0 record, then two days after the championship game flipped from Florida Atlantic to UF. ERA of 0.49 with 125 strikeouts in 79-2/3 innings.
August Backman, OF: Hit .505 for state champ Venice. Line drive hitter with gap power. Very difficult to strike out. Outstanding defensive center fielder with strong throwing arm. Also pitched for Venice.
Tyler Ellis, LHP: The No. 21 lefthanded pitcher by Perfect Game. Throws low-to-mid 90s, gets a lot of ground outs with his sinker. At Trinity Christian in Jacksonville posted an 0.62 ERA for state 2A champions. Outstanding defender at first base, also plays outfield. Teammate of UF signees Brady Harris and Ethan Wheeler.
Ethan Wheeler, RHP: Big (6-5, 220) righty with an overhand delivery. Consistent in the 90-92 range but projected to throw mid-to-high 90s with some tweaking of his delivery. From Trinity Christian in Jacksonville.
Luke Labbe, C: Ranked No. 33 catcher in the nation. Outstanding defender with a strong arm. Line drive contact hitter at Bartram Trail.
Brandon Lorenzo, SS: Growth spurt has taken him to 6-2, 165. Outstanding defender with great range and strong arm. Contact hitter whose power is expected to catch up with his growth. Hit .338 at Miami Mater Academy where he was All-Dade as a junior.
Brandon Heller, 2B: Contact hitter best known for defense at second base. Reportedly injured so only played 12 games as a senior at Malapan High School in New Jersey.
OUTGOING TRANSFERS
Cade Kurland, 2B, RJR, to LSU: Could also go in the 2026 MLB Draft. Career .276, 43 homers, 142 RBI at Florida.
McCall Biemiller, LHP, RSO, to North Carolina State: Career 5.93 ERA in 13-2/3 innings.
Rivers Kurland, LHP, RFR: No stats as a freshman.
Cooper Walls, RHP, SO: Went 3-3 with a 7.13 ERA after transferring from Hawaii where he was 3-3 with a 3.73 ERA as a freshman.
Kolt Myers, SS/3B, RFR: Hit .185 with three RBI last season.
Christian Rodriguez, RHP, RSO: Only three appearances last year with a 20.25 ERA. Pitched in 22 games with a 1-0 record in 2025.
Eli Blair, LHP, SO: Nine relief appearances, 0-1 record and a 4.82 ERA as a freshman.
Blake Brookins, OF, JR: Redshirt in 2026. Career .188 with two doubles.
Matthew Jenkins, RHP, JR: Did not play in 2026; 0-2 in 2025 with a 9.64 ERA.
Cooper Moss, RHP, RFR: Did not play in 2026.
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