Tag: Blake Cyr

Stetson outfielder Kyle Jones commits to Florida baseball

Florida baseball has already earned a handful of commitments from the transfer portal. The latest is Stetson outfielder Kyle Jones.

As the Florida Gators baseball team arrived back in Gainesville from their magical College World Series run, the coaching staff got some good news from the transfer portal.

Former Stetson outfielder Madison [autotag]Kyle Jones[/autotag] (goes by middle name) announced his commitment to the Orange and Blue on social media. Jones slashed .355/.459/.476 as the starting centerfielder for the Hatters last year.

Jones was named the ASUN Freshman of the Year after leading Stetson in batting average, runs, doubles, stolen bases and on-base percentage. He also made the All-ASUN Third Team and was the only freshman finalist for the 2024 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I Gold Glove team.

Scouting Report

Most of Jones’ power is to the pull side due to his plus bat speed, but it isn’t home-run power yet. He only belted five long balls a year ago, which isn’t typical of players Florida goes after in the portal, but he has borderline elite bat-to-ball skills and a [autotag]Tyler Shelnut[/autotag]-esque frame at 6-foot-3-inches and 170 pounds. In a perfect world, he matures physically and pushes double-digit homers while maintaining a plus-contact tool.

Even if he doesn’t add the power, Jones struck out just 27 times to 33 walks last year. He’s going to get on base, and he’s not going to blow it in big opportunities.

There’s also a speed element to Jones’ game. Prep Baseball Report recorded a sub-6.6-second 60-yard dash during his high school days. He’s rangy enough to play center field and has a solid (but not elite) arm — 90 mph from the outfield. Jones made just one error last season.

That plus speed also helps on the basepaths. He’s liable to leg out doubles more often than his counterparts — 15 in 2024 — and is a threat at all times on the basepaths. Jones stole 23 bags successfully last year and was caught only five times.

Where does Jones fit in Florida’s lineup?

Everything about Jones’ profile screams starting center fielder, but it’s going to be hard to unseat [autotag]Michael Robertson[/autotag] from that spot, assuming a return.

Robertson could try his luck in the draft, but he spent most of the season battling for playing time before clicking in the postseason. If Robertson can reach his full potential, Jones will need to play left field for the Gators. Jones is still a better candidate to leadoff, though, because of his 8.9% strikeout rate.

One domino falling usually means trouble behind it, though. If Jones fits into the vacant spot left by Shelnut in left field, then where does incoming outfielder [autotag]Blake Cyr[/autotag] play? Miami moved him from second to left field last season.

A shift to right field for Cyr feels natural, but that’s where Ashton Wilson would slot. Of course, either Cyr or Wilson could move back to the infield, where Florida has plenty of questions left to answer — namely who the starting shortstop will be.

The pieces are still in motion, but it’s clear that [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag] is reloading his team for another deep run in the College World Series.

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Florida baseball lands Miami’s Blake Cyr from transfer portal

Florida is reloading for next year while in the middle of this year’s College World Series run. Former Miami star Blake Cyr is headed to Gainesville.

Kevin O’Sullivan and the Florida Gators just landed one of the top names in the college baseball transfer portal — former Miami Freshman All-American [autotag]Blake Cyr[/autotag].

A career .298 hitter over 85 games (365 plate appearances) with Miami, Cyr brings another dangerous bat to the Florida lineup. He hit 17 home runs and drove in 63 as a freshman, but didn’t get the chance to best those numbers after a thumb injury ended his sophomore year early.

Despite the injury, Cyr should be ready to go for the start of the 2025 season. He’ll be in the conversation for an early-round draft pick all year long.

The Hurricanes moved Cyr to the outfield in 2024, but the Gators could use him on the dirt after losing a good amount of infield talent this offseason. [autotag]Jac Caglianone[/autotag] will be a top-5 pick in the draft, and [autotag]Colby Shelto[/autotag]n has a decision to make as a draft-eligible sophomore. [autotag]Tyler Shelnut[/autotag] and [autotag]Dale Thomas[/autotag] are also out of eligibility.

That leaves second baseman [autotag]Cade Kurland[/autotag] as the lone returning starter, assuming Shelton doesn’t make a return. Cyr played 46 games at second base for Miami as a freshman. He could try out third and shortstop next year with plenty of eyes on him, or Florida could keep him in the outfield.

Cyr joins Jacksonville’s Justin Nadeau and Texas Tech’s Landon Stripling as Florida’s third transfer portal addition.

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