On Monday, Baseball America became the fourth publication to rank the Florida Gators inside the top five to start the 2024 season.
The Gators check in at No. 4 behind Wake Forest, Lousiana State (LSU) and Arkansas. Perfect Game also had Florida in the No. 4 spot, while College Baseball Central and D1Baseball put the Orange and Blue at No. 2 in the country.
Florida returns 14 players from last year’s College World Series runner-up team, and Kevin O’Sullivan has added a strong recruiting class as well as transfers.
“The Gators last year finished as runners-up to LSU in the College World Series and look dangerous again in 2024,” the BA staff wrote. “Lefthander/first baseman Jac Caglianone, a Golden Spikes finalist last season, is perhaps the best player in the country and a building block both for the lineup and rotation. Florida has a powerful, potent lineup and if lefthander Cade Fisher makes an effective transition from the bullpen to Friday night starter, it has immense upside.”
Eight SEC teams made the top 25 in total. Besides the three clubs mentioned above, Vanderbilt and Tennessee control the Nos. 7 and 8 spots, respectively, while Texas A&M and South Carolina are at Nos. 11 and 12. Auburn is ranked No. 23 to start the season.
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