The Draft, The Portal And Big Potential For UF Baseball In 2023
By FRANZ BEARD
GatorBaitMedia.com
By the standards he set for himself and the Gators in 14 previous seasons, 2022 doesn’t measure up for Kevin O’Sullivan. The Gators finished 42-24 and had to stage a furious last month rally to even finish with a break-even (15-15) record in Southeastern Conference play. On the surface, that seems like a disappointing season, but looks can be deceiving.
When you take into consideration that O’Sullivan lost his lefthanded ace – Hunter Barco – to Tommy John surgery at midseason, leaving the Gators without a single experienced starter or reliever, then what the Gators accomplished is nothing short of remarkable. Operating with the youngest pitching staff in the Southeastern Conference and one of the youngest staffs in all of college baseball, O’Sullivan coaxed a 9-3 record out of the Gators on their final four SEC weekends. In Hoover, the Gators won four times to make the final four in the tournament and secure a No. 13 national seed which allowed them to host an NCAA regional.
In the regional, the Gators pushed Oklahoma to its limits. Yes, the same Oklahoma that has secured its spot in the championship round of the College World Series. If not for a 5-hour rain delay in the regional championship game, the Gators might have gone on to become that hot team in Omaha.
The Gators are going to lose a few key pieces to the comeback season when Major League Baseball drafts July 17-19, but with All-American Wyatt Langford returning along with a pitching staff that had to grow up in the final six weeks of the season, the prospects of a return to Omaha for the College World Series seem very, very bright. It is possible the Gators could lose as many as seven to the draft but all seven have the option to return to UF if they don’t get drafted by a team they wish to play for, or if the money offered just doesn’t seem right.
Outfielder/second baseman Sterlin Thompson had such a good season that he is certain to go in the first round and it’s highly unlikely that he will be back. Barco seems committed to the draft but he has had Tommy John surgery and that could alter his decision if he slips out of the first and second rounds. Jud Fabian is likely to go in the second or third rounds. He turned down second round money last year, but if he were to return again, his options would be severely limited, so figure he has both feet out the door. Brandon Sproat pitched his way into the second or third rounds so he’s not expected to return.
Catcher/first baseman BT Riopelle is in an intriguing position. He hits for power and showed a very good arm behind the plate, plus the versatility to handle first base seamlessly, but he also struck out 78 times and that concern could push him farther down the draft order. Consider Riopelle likely to go, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he returns.
Shortstop Josh Rivera and first baseman Kris Armstrong will probably be drafted, but their best interests may be served by a return to UF for one more season.
O’Sullivan has an All-American showpiece to build the 2023 team around. Wyatt Langford was the bullpen catcher as a true freshman in 2021. In 2022 he became one of the most feared hitters in all of college baseball. He is almost certainly a first rounder next year and will probably be the preseason favorite to win SEC Player of the Year.
Given what Jac Caglianone did at the plate in 28 games and it’s not hard to project the kind of numbers that will make Gainesville a required destination any time the Gators play. He was forced to DH this year as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He is also a first round talent on the mound, so he could split time between first base, DH and a starting role on the mound on weekends.
If Rivera returns, the left side of the infield will be set with Halter at third. Deric Fabian, the starter at third for the first three months of the season, could slide over to second base or he could also move to center field to replace his brother. Juco Tyler Shelnut, who hit 19 homers at Santa Fe College, could be the starter at second.
The corner outfield positions are set with Langford in left and Ty Evans in right although Evans could also move to center field. Corey Robinson will get a shot at playing every day.
The Gators got a transfer portal commitment from Mercer's standout right fielder Colby Thomas Thursday. Thomas hit .325 with 17 home runs for a 40-18 Mercer team last season. He projects as a center fielder if he isn't drafted high next month. Florida could also be in the market for a transfer catcher. Mercer's Collin Price, who hit 18 homer runs and is a mid-round draft projection is in the portal and could be looking to join Thomas in Gainesville. Florida is also in good position to land the top player in the portal, North Carolina State outfielder Tommy White, a Pinellas County native who had the top freshman season in the country with 27 homers and 79 RBI. Another Florida native in the portal who is thought to have a real interest in transferring to Florida is Orlando Trinity Christian product Ethan Groff, who hit .404 at Tulane with a .503 on-base percentage.
The one position where there is great uncertainty is catcher. With Mac Guscette in the transfer portal and the possibility that Riopelle takes the draft money, UF won’t have an experienced catcher. Luke Heyman was injured early in his senior season at Lake Brantley and Rene Lastres had Tommy John so he seems more a candidate to DH next year than anything else. This seems to be a place where O’Sullivan will be looking to add someone from the portal as insurance.
Where the Gators figure to improve the most will be on the mound. With Barco and Sproat gone, Brandon Neely figures to step into the Friday night role. There is no favorite to take over the Saturday and Sunday roles, but if Pierce Coppola and Caglianone are healthy, there is every good chance they’ll be in the mix. Tyler Nesbitt, Fisher Jameson, Nick Ficarrota and Carsten Finnvold could be the midweek starters. O’Sullivan signed a pair of juco starters in Magnus Ellerts and Clete Harzog, both of whom put up eye-popping strikeout numbers. If high school signees Jake Clemente and Cade Fisher aren’t drafted and signed, they will have a chance to earn some innings.
Blake Purnell returns after a freshman All-American season as a long relief setup guy and Ryan Slater has the possibility to be a dynamic closer if he can get command of the strike zone. Phil Abner and Anthony Ursitti seem ready to be groomed as middle relievers. Both have big league stuff when they can throw strikes.
There are only a couple of missing pieces the way the 2023 roster shapes up as of today. There is no shortage of talent in the field, good power and a pitching staff that likely changes from questionable to dependable and potentially dominant next year. In 15 years on the job, Kevin O’Sullivan has proven that he knows how to put a roster together that can make deep runs in the NCAA tournament. The Gators have been to Omaha seven times in O’Sullivan’s tenure at UF. UF has been a national top eight seed nine times. They should make it an even ten in 2023.
No one was more disappointed than Kevin O’Sullivan that the Gators were eliminated in the Gainesville regional by an Oklahoma team that has earned its way into the championship round at the College World Series. No one knows and understands more than O’Sullivan just how good the Gators can be and should be in 2023. Perhaps this season didn’t turn out the way Gator fans are used to in 2022, but this was a rebuild that will pay great dividends in the future.
Here is a look at the roster from top to bottom:
DRAFT ELIGIBLE
Jud Fabian, CF: He turned down second round money after the 2021 season to come back to UF. His batting average dipped to .239 but he had excellent power numbers with 24 homers and 55 RBI. He is an elite defender in center field and considered No. 38 prospect in the draft. He hit 56 homers in his career. Has the option of returning to play a COVID year.
Sterlin Thompson, RF/2B: Thompson is a first round talent who enhanced his draft status by making an in-season switch from right field to second base almost seamlessly. He hit .354 with 11 homers and 51 RBI. In the Gainesville regional he went 11-19 with a home run. He has two seasons of eligibility but the odds he will return are slim to none.
BT Riopelle, C/1B: After transferring in from Coastal Carolina, Riopelle made first team All-SEC while hitting .304 with 15 homers and 55 RBI. Toward the end of the season played a lot of first base. He has a year of eligibility remaining so if he doesn’t like where he’s drafted or by whom, he has the option of returning.
Hunter Barco, LHP: Before he had season-ending Tommy John surgery he was a lock to go in the first two rounds. He’s still likely to be chosen in rounds one or two, but if he dips below that he could come back. He will be at the MLB Draft Combine, not to throw but to be interviewed by scouts.
Brandon Sproat, RHP: He became the ace of the staff when Barco was lost for the season. For the year he had a 9-4 record with a 3.41 ERA, but he was 5-0 down the stretch with a 1.59 ERA. He dominated South Carolina for 8-1/3 innings in the SEC Tournament then came back to give up just one run in nine innings against Central Michigan in the regional. He probably pitched his way into the second round. Two years of eligibility if he decides to come back.
Kris Armstrong, 1B: Big things were expected in 2022 but he was inconsistent at the plate, finishing with a .230 batting average with two homers and 10 RBI. He has tremendous power and could be a late round pick, but he probably comes back. He could make the transition to the mound if he returns. He’s ambidextrous and can pitch with both arms. Son of former Major Leaguer Jack Armstrong.
Josh Rivera, SS: Rivera is a highly-regarded defender who can also play second base. In 2022, he hit .254 with nine homers and 30 RBI. He has two seasons of draft eligibility so unless he gets picked by the right team and gets the right money offer, he should be back in 2023.
IN THE PORTAL
Corey Robinson, OF: This was a bit of a surprise as Robinson was thought to be the heir apparent to Jud Fabian in center field. He played in 21 games as a true freshman in 2022, hitting .133 with a home run and three RBI.
Mac Guscette, C: Some are viewing Guscette’s decision to go into the portal as a sign that BT Riopelle may be returning. If Riopelle leaves, the Gators are in a bit of a bind since Rene Lastres had Tommy John surgery and won’t be able to do much throwing until January or later. Signee Luke Heyman was injured and is expected to come to UF rather than sign but there is no guarantee there. Guscette had 30 starts in 2022, hitting .238 with five homers and 18 RBI.
Nick Pogue, RHP: This came as a bit of a surprise since he was expected to be one of the weekend starters for 2023. He had season-ending Tommy John surgery in 2021 and spent the first half of 2022 trying to regain location on his pitches but that started to come around in the final third of the season. Pogue finished the year 4-3 with a 4.81 ERA, but in the last six weeks delivered five straight quality starts in which he went at least five innings. He is a graduate and he is draft-eligible. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Karl Hartman, RHP: As a true freshman, Hartman pitched 15 innings with a 9.00 ERA. He picked up a save when he struck out two in the ninth to preserve a win over Bethune-Cookman. He only pitched one inning after April 22.
Jorge De Goti, SS: The infield will be crowded if Josh Rivera comes back so this isn’t a big surprise. He just wants to find a landing spot where he can play. As a true freshman De Goti hit .286 in nine games. He didn’t play after a 1-2 outing against South Florida in early May.
Timmy Manning, LHP: A big time prospect coming out of Cardinal Gibbons in Pompano Beach, Manning seemed lost in space for two years although he had a quality 5-inning start against Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament in which he held the Aggies scoreless and gave up just five hits. He was 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA. After that SEC Tournament outing, Manning’s transfer comes as a surprise, but perhaps he’s looking for more innings than he’s likely to get in 2023.
RETURNEES
Pitchers
Brandon Neely, RHP: When Hunter Barco went down for the season Neely became the No. 2 starter. There were games he pitched like the freshman he was and a couple in which he pitched like a cold-hearted veteran assassin such as the 7-inning, 10-strikeout performance against South Carolina in the SEC Tournament or the 6-2/3 innings of domination against Oklahoma before the rains came in the Gainesville regional. He finished 3-3 with a 3.76 ERA. He figures to be the Friday starter when the 2023 season begins.
Tyler Nesbitt, RHP: We tend to forget that he missed all of 2021 due to Tommy John surgery. It was hit and miss most of the season, but when Nesbitt got it going he had really good stuff. Finished the season 2-3 with a 4.51 ERA. His best outing was 3-1/3 innings against Florida State in which he gave up one hit and struck out five. He has three years eligibility remaining. He will be a factor in the rotation next year either as a starter or long reliever.
Ryan Slater, RHP: He’s got the big arm and a closer’s mentality. The issue is command of the strike zone (25 walks and 12 hit batters in 57-1/3 inning). If he can throw strikes he can be a dominant closer. He was 6-4 with a 5.34 ERA. We tend to forget that he was just a freshman. Pitching for the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod League this summer.
Blake Purnell, RHP: A freshman All-American, Purnell went 3-3 with a 2.86 ERA and four saves in 50-1/3 innings, all of them out of the bullpen. He has sort of a rubber arm that lets him throw short or long relief on an almost daily basis. He figures to be Slater’s set-up guy in 2023. Pitching for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League this summer.
Nick Ficarrotta, RHP: As a redshirt freshman, Ficarrotta had one start and 27 relief appearances, going 4-0 with a 3.90 ERA while racking up 63 strikeouts in 60 innings. His shining moment came in the SEC Tournament when he went 6-1/3 innings in relief against Alabama, giving up one hit and striking out six to pick up the win. He should push for a starter’s job next year, either midweek or even weekends.
Fisher Jameson, RHP: He’s a big (6-5, 225) righthander with an easy motion who became a valuable contributor out of the bullpen in the last third of the season. In 19-1/3 innings all in relief, Jameson had a 1-0 record, 3.72 ERA and one save. The save was a 4-inning gem against Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament in which he gave up just one hit while striking out four. Could factor either as a midweek starter or long reliever as a sophomore in 2023. Pitching for Charlottesville in the Valley League this summer.
Anthony Ursitti, RHP: He has the power arm (26 strikeouts in 21-1/3 innings) but has to get a better command of the strike zone (8 walks, 4 hit batters, 4 wild pitches). He pitched in 15 games and was effective in all but one appearance. He has starter’s stuff but may have to pick up innings in middle relief as a sophomore next year. Pitching for Strasburg in the Valley League this summer.
Pierce Coppola, LHP: The big (6-8, 220) lefty was set to be the Sunday starter when he injured his back in the first weekend of the season when he gave up five hits and struck out seven in 4-1/3 innings of work. He was shut down the rest of the season. If he’s healthy, he will be a weekend starter next year. He will get a medical redshirt and have four years of eligibility.
Carsten Finnvold, LHP: Finnvold made the All-Tournament team at the Gainesville regional when he shut down Oklahoma on five hits over nine innings, all in relief. He doesn’t throw hard, but he changes speeds, has natural sink and a nice slider. Finnvold finished with a 2-1 record and a 5.00 ERA in six appearances. He’s gone from a nobody to someone who will be a factor in next season’s rotation. Pitching for Strasburg in the Valley League this summer.
Phil Abner, LHP: Abner has the big arm and electric stuff when he can get it over the plate. He walked 21 batters in 22-1/3 innings, but he also struck out 24. He was much better at the end of the season than he was in the first 2-1/2 months. If he can throw strikes consistently, he could be a factor as a starter next year. Pitching for the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod League this summer.
Sam Sloan, RHP: A Lakeland High School product, Sloan took a redshirt as a true freshman.
Infielders:
Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP/DH: He had Tommy John surgery in high school so he didn’t pitch or play in the field in 2022. He has tremendous power and size (6-5, 240). Once he took over at DH, he hit .288 with seven homers and 27 RBI. Elite prospect whether at first base or as a lefty pitcher. Expect him to split time between first, DH and pitching in 2023.
Colby Halter, 3B/2B: At one point he was hitting .447 but he slumped to finish .240. He showed power (8 homers) and made some spectacular plays once he moved from second over to third. Playing for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League this summer.
Deric Fabian, 3B/SS: He was the starting third baseman until he hit a wall like most freshmen and went into a funk. Finished the season with a .218 average (4 HR, 22 RBI). Likely moves to shortstop if Rivera is drafted. Also could eventually wind up in center field. He’s playing for the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod League this summer.
Kendrick Calilao, 1B/OF: Always a reliable hitter, Calilao went into an April slump and never recovered in 2022, finishing the season hitting .209 with six hits in his last 52 at bats. He has 13 homers and 90 RBI in his career at UF. He has already graduated. He can play first or either of the corners in the infield.
Outfielders
Wyatt Langford, LF: Langford went from the freshman bullpen catcher in 2021 to an All-American outfielder in the span of one year. He tied Florida’s single season home run record with 26 to go with 63 RBI and a .355 batting average. He made the transformation to the outfield flawlessly, playing errorless in the field while starting 66 games in left field. Langford is a likely first round draft pick in 2023. He is listed on the rosters of the Peninsula Pilots of the Coastal Plain League and the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League.
Ty Evans, RF: He started 26 games in right field and showed a tremendous glove, plus surprising power (5 HR, 16 RBI in 99 at-bats). He could move to center field to replace Jud Fabian. He’s playing for the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod League this summer.
Michael Robertson, CF: Injured in 2022 so he took a redshirt. Big time prospect as an outfielder. Gap hitter with some power. He is playing for the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod League this summer.
Tucker Talbott, OF/RHP: Played in seven games as a redshirt freshman in 2022. Went 4-5 with two RBI in a start against Stetson. Also pitches.
Matt Prevesk: He played in 13 games as a true freshman in 2022, hitting .200. Was a gap hitter in high school at Apopka. He’s playing for Charlottesville in the Valley League this summer.
HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES
Luke Heyman, C/1B: He’s a high level prospect who will enroll for Summer B, but could still leave for the MLB Draft if he gets with the right team and for the right money. Power hitter with serious tools behind the plate. Injured during the high school season at Lake Brantley and that could affect where he goes.
Yoel Tejada Jr., 1B/OF/LHP: The big question will be where to play him? He’s a switch-hitter with excellent power who can play first or in the outfield. As a pitcher he throws low to mid-90s with a slider that is his out pitch.
Xavier Isaac, 1B: He is a big time lefty hitting first baseman with great size (6-4, 240) and strength. He could go in the second or third round of the draft.
Jake Clemente, RHP: Big righty who throws mid-90s consistently. If he’s picked in the first 4-5 rounds there is a real chance he signs.
Cade Fisher, LHP: He’s considered a rounds 5-10 prospect but he could move up a bit in the draft. He throws low 90s but what has the scouts’ attention is he throws strikes and the ball moves. Expect him at UF unless he moves way up in the draft.
Chris Arroyo, OF/LHP: Excellent outfield prospect who also pitches. As an outfielder he gets to a lot of balls in the gap. As a pitcher he throws high 80s and with command of his fast ball and slider.
William Ross, RHP: He is 6-8 and 245 pounds. Doesn’t have a blazing fast ball but he throws for strikes. He could also spend time at first base.
Salvador Alvarez, C: He’s a Miami kid who played at Montverde. Excellent defensive catcher who is a good contact hitter.
Erik Blair, OF/LHP: He’s an outfielder who doubles as a lefty pitcher. Good speed and good defense in the outfield. Throws in the mid-to-upper 80s on the mound.
JUCO SIGNEES
Magnus Ellerts, RHP: He was a juco All-American as a freshman at Patrick Henry Community College in Virginia where he struck out 141 hitters in 86-2/3 innings. Transferred to Florida Southwestern where he struck out 101 batters in 69 innings last season while going 10-0. He was drafted last year and is once again draft eligible but seems committed to UF.
Clete Hartzog, RHP: A Panama City native (Mosley HS), he played his juco ball in Alabama at Lurleen Wallace in Dothan where he struck out 98 batters in 74 innings while going 10-3.
Alex Ulloa, IF: He’s a Miami native (Calvary Christian) who played juco ball in Arizona at Yavapi. He plays shortstop and third base, hits with power but swings and misses a lot.
Tyler Shelnut, 2B: He had the most saves (12) in Division I juco in 2021 at Santa Fe. As a sophomore, playing second base, he had 19 homers and 57 RBI. He’s playing for Charlottesville in the Valley League this summer.
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