Tag: Colby Shelton

Florida’s transfer shortstop ranked fifth in nation by D1Baseball

Kevin O’Sullivan needed to fill a void at shortstop after Josh Rivera turned pro, so he went out and got a top-five player at the position, according to D1Baseball.com

Florida lost one of the country’s better shortstops in Josh Rivera to the draft over the summer, but Kevin O’Sullivan made sure to get a strong replacement for the 2024 campaign.

Colby Shelton transferred over from Alabama and is expected to transition from third base to shortstop this year at Florida. D1Baseball ranks him fifth overall behind West Virginia’s JJ Wetherholt, Virginia’s Griff O’Ferrall, TCU’s Anthony Silva and Kansas State’s Kaelen Culpepper.

While the glove is a work in progress, Shelton should be one of the best mashers in the country. He hit 25 home runs as a true freshman for the Crimson Tide last season and ended the year with a 1.143 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. If Jac Caglianone is batting behind him, opposing pitchers won’t have any choice but to pitch to Shelton.

Because he is already 21, Shelton will be draft-eligible at the end of the year. A strong year could put him in the conversation for first-round money, but he’ll have to pass by the other four names ahead of him on D1Baseball’s list first.

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Perfect Game names 3 Gators as Preseason All-Americans

Baseball season is just around the corner and Florida once again features some of the nation’s best — three Preseason All-Americans, in fact.

Baseball season is just six weeks away, and the Florida Gators are gearing up for another College World Series push after finishing as the runner-up in 2023.

Florida lost an incredible amount of talent to the draft, including two starting pitchers and No. 4 overall pick Wyatt Langford, but Kevin O’Sullivan knows how to reload for each season. The Gators start the season with three All-Americans on the roster, according to Perfect Game.

Making the first team, as a two-way player, is Jac Caglianone. He set the school record and national BBCOR-era record with 33 home runs a season ago and served as Florida’s Sunday starter for most of the season. Fall reports have Caglianone nearing triple digits off the mound, but accuracy is always the question. If he can locate his fastball at that velocity, he’ll become one of the most interesting draft prospects of all time.

On the second team is a new Gator, transfer infielder Colby Shelton. He slashes .300/.419/.729 for Alabama as a freshman in 2023 and could easily work his way up to the first team. Shelton’s bat is as sure as it gets, but the glove is the question mark in his game, especially moving from third to short.

Finally, Brandon Neely — who served as Florida’s closer last year — is on the third team. He’s listed as a relief pitcher, but there has been some talk of Neely returning to the starting rotation. Neely was a starting pitcher for Florida as a freshman, but he moved into that closer role and thrived.

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Four Florida Gators among D1Baseball’s Top 100 College prospects

Jac Caglianone could be the first overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, but who are the other Gators that have draft potential?

Fall baseball is just about to begin, and the folks at D1Baseball.com are getting the ball rolling with an early ranking of the top 100 college prospects for the upcoming MLB draft. Four Gators made the cut.

First baseman and left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone sits at No. 1 and figures to be one of the most interesting players in the country to follow over the next 10 months. Caglianone put up record power numbers at Florida as a sophomore. He led the nation with 33 home runs and finished the season with a 1.122 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.

On the mound, things didn’t go as well for Cags, but there’s no denying he has some of the best stuff in the country when he’s on. His fastball can touch triple digits, but he’s more likely to throw it for a strike around 96 mph. The slider is devastating against lefties, and the changeup showed a ton of promise a season ago.

If Caglianone can live up to the lofty expectations set for him, he’ll easily hang on to that No. 1 spot.

Alabama transfer Colby Shelton was the biggest offseason addition to Florida’s roster, and he should man either third base or shortstop for the Gators this season. As a freshman with the Crimson Tide, Shelton hit 25 homers and put up a 1.143 OPS (higher than Caglianone).

Despite being a sophomore, Shelton will be draft-eligible by age in July. D1Baseball has him at No. 50 on its list.

Right-handed pitcher Brandon Neely is the next Gator on the list at No. 67 overall. He transitioned to the bullpen and thrived as a closer last year, but Neely could revert back to a starter with Brandon Sproat and Hurston Waldrep gone.

Rounding out the group is catcher Luke Heyman, who is another draft-eligible sophomore. Heyman took a while to catch fire, but he has a ton of power in his bat. He hit 12 homers in 55 games as a freshman, but that number could jump up to 20 with ease this year.

The Florida Gators usually have a few names go in the first few rounds of the draft each season, and it looks like that trend isn’t going to break anytime soon.

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Alabama star third baseman Colby Shelton transfers to SEC rival, Florida

Freshman All-SEC Selection and Alabama third baseman Colby Shelton announced that he is transferring to Florida.

The Alabama baseball program took a huge hit on Thursday afternoon. Alabama third baseman Colby Shelton announced that he was transferring to Florida via his Instagram.

Shelton spent one season in Tuscaloosa. The Florida native obtained a .300 batting average. Shelton was a power-threat at the plate having hit 25 home runs. He broke the single-season record for most home runs hit by a freshman in program history at 22 home runs.

While Shelton was a work in progress defensively, he still managed to make some pivotal plays for the Crimson Tide down the stretch.He finished the season with a .886 fielding percentage.

Shelton will likely be inserted into the Gators lineup next season. The team could lose several key pieces in the infield to the MLB Draft.

Shelton’s bat was reliable in both the regular season and post-season. With his departure, the Alabama coaching staff will evaluate the transfer portal for possible replacements.

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Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama baseball program and its involvement in the transfer portal.

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Alabama third baseman Colby Shelton enters transfer portal following stellar freshman season

Alabama freshman third baseman Colby Shelton has entered the NCAA transfer portal per reports. Shelton hit 25 home runs which broke the freshman record for most runs in a season.

Alabama freshman third baseman Colby Shelton has entered the transfer portal, according to Charlie Potter. Shelton was named as a Freshman All-SEC selection as well as a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball News.

Shelton led the Tide with 25 home runs. In doing so, he broke the single-season home run record for a freshman in school history.

He also finished with 10 doubles which finished tied for third-most on the team. Shelton also had 51 runs batted in which finished for third-most on the team as well.

Altogether, Shelton proved to be a valuable addition especially after the starter the previous year (Zane Denton) transferred to Tennessee.

Along with Shelton, junior infielder Bryce Eblin also entered the transfer portal. Their decision comes just one day after Rob Vaughn was introduced as the team’s next head coach.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama baseball program.

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Two Alabama freshmen receive prestigous recognition following impressive season

Freshmen Colby Shelton and Alton Davis II were named as a Second-team freshman All-Americans by the National College Writers Baseball Association. Both had impressive first-year campaigns in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama freshmen Colby Shelton and Alton Davis II were named as second-team freshman All-Americans by the National College Baseball Writers Association.

Both Shelton and Davis II played key roles for the Crimson Tide in 2023.

Shelton had a stellar freshman campaign at the plate. He accounted for 25 home runs and 51 runs batted. Shelton led the team in home runs, slugging percentage (.729), and OPS (1.148).

Davis II finished the season as the team’s go-to arm out of the bullpen. An electric fastball and energy on the mound helped Davis II earn national recognition. He recorded two saves and recorded 11 strikeouts in 10.2 innings.

Davis II will play for Team USA this summer. It is unclear if Shelton will participate in any summer leagues.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama baseball program.

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Alabama baseball falls in Game 1 of super regionals to Wake Forest

The No. 16 overall seed Alabama Crimson Tide fell in Game 1 of the Super Regionals to No. 1 overall seed Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons defeated the Crimson Tide 5-4.

The Alabama baseball team opened its super regional on Saturday with a loss against Wake Forest. The Tide fell to the Demon Deacons, 5-4.

The scoring started when leadoff hitter and center fielder Tommy Hawke delivered a solo shot to right-center field in the bottom of the first. In the home half of the second inning, the Demon Deacons produced two more runs.

After Wake Forest pitcher Rhett Lowder cruised through two innings, the Alabama bats woke up. The nine-hole hitter, Caden Rose hit a solo shot to left field in the top of the third inning to cut the Demon Deacons lead to 3-1.

In the fourth inning, designated hitter Dominic Tamez came through with a two-out walk. The next batter, Colby Shelton hit a two-run home run to tie the game at 3.

Alabama starting pitcher Luke Holman settled in after the second until two outs in the fifth. With two strikes in the count, Holman induced a check-swing on a pitch called a ball. On appeal, the third base umpire ruled the batter had not swung. One pitch later, designated hitter Danny Corona hit a solo shot to right field to give the Demon Deacons a one-run lead.

Shortly thereafter, Alabama hitting coach Matt Reida was ejection. Between innings, Alabama head coach Jason Jackson walked onto the field to argue his case for why the call on the field was incorrect.

Needless to say, that run came back to bite the Crimson Tide.

Wake Forest scored again in the sixth inning to take a 5-3 lead.

In the eighth inning, Rose delivered with his second home run of the game, but it was not enough. Holman fell to 7-4 while Lowder improved to 15-0.

A start time for Sunday’s Game 2 has not been determined. We will be sure to keep you updated!

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama baseball program.

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Alabama bounced from SEC Tournament following 9-2 loss to Vanderbilt

Alabama’s SEC Tournament run ends with a 9-2 loss to Vanderbilt on Friday night.

After a solid run in the 2023 SEC Tournament, the Alabama baseball team will head back to Tuscaloosa licking its chops following a 9-2 loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores on Friday night from the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama.

Alabama’s pitching staff took a beating early on surrendering five runs in the first inning. Alabama would cut the deficit to three in the third inning with a two-run home run from Colby Shelton, but would not cross home plate again in the contest.

Alabama will now head home and wait for its final verdict for the NCAA Tournament, where it will likely host a regional.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

SERIES RECAP: Alabama sweeps Ole Miss to end regular season on a strong note

Alabama baseball sweeps Ole Miss to finish 2023 regular season in emphatic fashion!

Amidst the turmoil of the Brad Bohannon gambling drama, the Alabama baseball team has somehow managed to begin to play some of its best ball of the 2023 season. The Crimson Tide wrapped up a series sweep of the Ole Miss Rebels on Friday night to finish the 2023 regular season with back-to-back SEC series wins.

In fact, since the firing of coach Bohannon, the Alabama baseball team is 8-2 and currently owns a five-game winning streak. Over the course of said winning streak, the Crimson Tide has outscored its opponents 44-5.

Let’s quickly recap Alabama’s series sweep of the Rebels as the Tide now prepares for the SEC tournament!

Alabama Baseball continue offensive success in 13-6 win over Samford

The Tide carried their success at the plate into Tuesday’s game against Samford, which Alabama won 13-6.

The Alabama baseball team continued its winning streak with a 13-6 victory over Samford on Tuesday evening. The Tide have now won four games in a row.

Alabama was led offensively by seniors Ed Johnson and Tommy Seidl. The two combined to go 4-for-6 at the plate and drove in seven runs. Both of them contributed in a timely manner with a solo homerun and a three-run home run respectively.

Freshman Colby Shelton continued to mash at the plate with his 16th home run of the season. Shelton hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning.

Aden Moza received the win on the mound after going 1.1 innings of one hit ball and allowing just one run.

Alabama improved to 30-12 with the win while the Bulldogs fell to 22-19 on the season.

The Tide will travel to Baton Rouge for a three-game series against LSU starting on Friday.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama baseball program as the season progresses.

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