Tag: Kevin O’Sullivan

Florida baseball’s Kevin O’Sullivan reacts to final fall exhibitions vs. USF

Here’s what the Gators skipper had to offer after his team split a twin-bill with the USF Bulls in Gainesville on Sunday.

Florida baseball played its final two scrimmages of the fall on Sunday, hosting the South Florida Bulls inside Condron Family Ballpark for a pair of seven-inning exhibitions. While the Gators swept both games of an earlier twin-bill scrimmage at the Jacksonville Dolphins on Nov. 1, the home team earned a split this time.

The Orange and Blue managed a 5-0 win in the opener thanks to some strong pitching and solid offense — including a pair of back-to-back home runs that gave Florida an early 2-0 lead. Inclement weather delayed the game for 50 minutes in the fifth inning, but that did not slow the Gators down.

However, things caught up with [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag]’s squad in the second game, in which they were shut out with a 2-0 final score. And thus ends Florida’s preseason exhibition schedule.

Following the doubleheader, O’Sullivan spoke with the media and here is what he had to offer.

On Florida’s performance against USF

“We weren’t able to get Jackson (Barberi) out there because of a little rain relay, was like a 40-minute rain delay. But other than that, I think everybody pitched fairly well, and we got a little sloppy there in the third inning of the second game.

“Only error we made was the one behind the plate. We got a little sloppy behind the plate that one inning. But offensively, we got off to a quick start with the back-to-back home runs and made three really, really nice plays in the first game. Kyle Jones made a heck of a play in the left-center gap. Of course, Cade (Kurland) made a really nice play going to his left. And Bobby Boser made a real nice play at third. We turned a double play.

“In the second game, I think we were swinging at balls out of the hand. I thought our approaches were not very good in the second game. I mean, we’ve been swinging the bat well the entire fall, so, all in all, pitching and defense was good. It’s improved from last year. Certainly, on the mound, we’ve got a lot of options.

“Had a chance to move some different guys around defensively in the second game, which was nice to see. It was productive. Obviously, we would have wanted to swing the bats a little bit better in the second game, but that’s part of it.”

On Florida’s offense in 2nd scrimmage

“We just haven’t seen — two games is not enough to get in the flow of things. When you’re facing a new arm every inning, it does become a bit challenging. It’s no excuse but the fact of the matter is we had an opportunity to play two outside teams other than our own team during the fall.

“Sometimes these things happen in the early part of the year and it takes you a little while to get in your groove but, yeah, I just think we were swinging at balls out of the hand and our approaches weren’t very good early in the count. Probably hit too many balls in the air, too.”

On freshman RHP Aidan King

“Yeah, he’s had a really good fall for us and there’s a reason we gave him two innings today. Frankie Menendez wasn’t able to throw today because he’s been under the weather a little bit so that’s why he didn’t throw today.

“Somebody had to throw two innings and we felt like he had earned the opportunity to do that and he’s been really consistent. His mound presence is different than maybe most of the freshmen that we had in the last couple years. I was pleased with the way he threw.”

On Brody Donay taking reps at first base

“He’s been playing really good at first. The one that we haven’t been able to see very much is Brendan Lawson. He’s certainly going to be a factor in our lineup. He had a concussion so he’s been out for two or three weeks now but certainly looking forward to getting them back.”

On Florida’s freshmen pitchers

“I thought Josh Whitenour threw the ball really well. I think a couple of the other guys held it together. There were a couple walks here or there but for the most part they didn’t let the inning get away from them other than the one inning in the third, really.”

On sophomore RHP Liam Peterson

“There’s still some improvement. I think Liam has taken a step forward. You can see his stuff. His mound presence is different. Still working with Jake on his secondary stuff, landing the slider a little bit more. He threw a couple changeups today and there’s no doubting his arm strength. We still got some work to do but certainly the biggest thing is to get out of the fall healthy and see how things look in the spring.”

On Peterson’s mechanical changes

“I think everything’s better. He’s landing his breaking ball now. It’s a really, really tight spinner. I think it’s like 2,800 (rpm) spin rate and he’s got a slider and he’s always had good feel for the changeup. Now he’s pitching at 95-98 and he’s throwing a lot more strikes. He’s certainly on his way, for sure.”

On Peterson changing his fastball grip

“Yeah, it’s probably got a little more finish to it. He’s getting some more swings and misses up in the zone for sure.”

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Florida baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan talks offseason, fall ball

Florida head baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan gave a program update ahead of its fall ball matchup with Jacksonville University on Friday.

Ahead of Florida baseball’s first fall ball scrimmage, head coach [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag] joined Steve Russell and Sportscene on ESPN Radio WRUF to discuss the changes made over the offseason and preview this weekend’s matchup against Jacksonville University.

Florida and Georgia have played on this weekend — during the annual football rivalry game in Jacksonville — over the past few years, but the schedule changed this year for reasons unknown until now. O’Sullivan confirmed that the decision was made by the Bulldogs’ program, not the Gators.

“The bottom line is that I think Georgia just decided not to play in the game,” O’Sullivan said. “But we’re excited about playing JU.”

Fall ball can be a complicated time. Getting everyone enrolled and on the field is the first step, then it becomes about developing a blueprint for the spring. While nothing is set in stone, the coaching staff gets to evaluate its roster and get a good sense of a potential starting lineup and weekend rotation.

New faces in Gainesville

Sully said that one of the main focuses in the transfer portal this offseason was to change the way the offense looks — fewer strikeouts and more balls in play. The Gators welcome nine transfers and a 12-man freshman class to the program.

Notable additions include USF infielder Bobby Boser, Miami outfielder/infielder [autotag]Blake Cyr[/autotag], Jacksonville infielder Justin Nadeau and Stetson outfielder Kyle Jones. On the mound, Clemson right-hander Billy Barlow and Sante Fe right-hander Matthew Jenkins figure to be key pieces on Florida’s pitching staff this year.

“I think we’ve got a lot of versatility,” he said. “I really like Bobby Boser, the infielder/outfielder we got from South Florida. Justin Nadeau from JU has really stepped in an been able to play a lot of positions. Billy Barlow, the right-hander from Clemson has come in and done a really nice job. All in all, it’s been a successful fall so far.”

UF veterans provide a stable core

However, it’s the players Florida kept from leaving that might have the biggest impact on the team this year.

“Sometimes your best recruits are the ones you get back to school,” he said. “Getting back Colby Shelton, Pierce Coppola and Ty Evans — sometimes, when you get three or four guys back to school that you may not have expected to get back, they end up being your best recruits.”

The shifting landscape of college sports has helped Florida retain key players who may have opted to sign with a pro team in years past. Name, image and likeness is a major factor for the team now that college baseball has found its footing with the changes made. NIL also helps Florida in the transfer portal significantly.

Sully admitted that the team will lean on the veterans more than the freshmen this year, but several first-year players figure to be in the mix for a chance to pitch. The Gators will throw five freshman arms in the two six-inning games against the Dolphins on Friday.

Lessons learned in 2024

Florida is coming off a second-straight College World Series appearance and ninth overall since O’Sullivan took over the program. A 36-30 (13-17 vs. SEC) finish was the worst for UF since 2019, but another trip to Omaha always grants some wisdom.

“Going through what we went through last year, the ups and downs, every year, as a player or as a coach, you learn something new,” he said. “The bottom line is that the biggest takeaway I got from that was that we continued to get better and continued to improve.

“Regardless of how you got to Omaha, that’s the ultimate goal. Sometimes it’s a different route than other years. It may not have been pretty, but we certainly earned it.”

Chemistry is another key factor when it comes to making a run like Florida did, despite underperforming most of the regular season.

“Every successful team needs talent, but when you’ve got experience and leadership to go along with that, to lead the younger players, I don’t think you can win a championship without that,” he said.

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D1Baseball names 5 Florida Gators to top-100 MLB prospects list

After a couple of star-studded draft classes in Gainesville, which Florida baseball players are likely to hear their name called in 2025?

The Florida Gators have seen more than 100 players selected in the MLB draft since [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag] took over, and that number is only set to grow in the upcoming cycle.

D1Baseball included four returning Gators — [autotag]Jake Clemente[/autotag], [autotag]Brody Donay[/autotag], [autotag]Cade Kurland[/autotag] and [autotag]Colby Shelton[/autotag] — and incoming Miami transfer [autotag]Blake Cyr[/autotag] on its list of the top 100 MLB draft prospects at the college level heading into 2025.

Although the list came out in the days after the draft, Shelton only made his return official at the end of July. He’s now officially the highest-ranked Gator on the list at No. 34 overall and fifth among shortstops.

Right-hander Jake Clemente is next at No. 51 and should be a scout favorite after tearing it up in the Cape Cod League over the summer. He should get a chance to start in Gainesville this year, potentially as the third piece of the weekend rotation.

Which Gators are on the bubble?

The other three mentioned above are all in the 94-98 range. Cyr and Donay are both bat-heavy prospects who don’t really have a position.

D1Baseball lists Donay as an outfielder instead of a catcher, but he only played five summer ball games in right to seven games behind the dish and 10 at first. Donay’s height makes him a nice fit at first base, but he’s still looking for ways to utilize his arm strength on the field.

Cyr is another SEC-caliber bat with no clear position heading into 2025. He started off at second base with Miami but moved to left field last year. The only conference in college baseball tougher than the ACC is the SEC, so it’s unlikely we see Cyr move back to the infield but remains an option.

Both Cyr and Donay have 20-homer potential going into next season, but scouts are going to limit the ceiling of any prospect who doesn’t have a future at a coveted position on the field. That’s the reason for Shelton’s high ranking, even though numbers took a dip.

Finally, there’s second baseman Cade Kurland, who has a position but struggled to field it at times during his sophomore season. A bounce-back season defensively could vault him up from the No. 95 spot without much resistance. Bringing his strikeout rate back down five points to his freshman-year numbers would also help.

Who could join the list?

It’s always hard to predict which players will break out coming into a season, but a few proven names in Gainesville were left off this list.

Left-hander [autotag]Pierce Coppola[/autotag] might end up being the most impressive piece of the weekend rotation if his strikeout rate stays above 30%. Then there’s catcher [autotag]Luke Heyman[/autotag], who went through the same sophomore slump Kurland did but has a chance to stick at catcher.

A longshot to make the top 100 would be outfielder [autotag]Ty Evans[/autotag], who was on fire for most of 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury. He’ll lose most of his draft leverage as a senior, but there’s still a shot at being selected in the first five rounds.

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Colby Shelton officially announces return to Florida baseball

After being selected in the 20th round of the MLB draft, Florida shortstop Colby Shelton has officially decided to return to the Gators for another year.

The Florida Gators always expected to get shortstop [autotag]Colby Shelton[/autotag] back for the 2024 season after he fell to the 20th round of the 2024 MLB draft, but his return wasn’t made official until Monday night.

Shelton took to social media to announce his decision, opting to return to Gainesville instead of signing with the Washington Nationals.

The Alabama transfer joined the Orange and Blue last offseason seeking an opportunity at shortstop in the SEC. [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag] gave him the chance, and Shelton proved himself as one of the conference’s most reliable fielders.

Shelton’s batting average took a significant dip and his strikeout rate got worse during his first year at Florida, but he still hit 20 home runs and ended the year with a .925 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. He’ll enter 2024 as one of the most feared bats in the SEC.

Getting Shelton back is a major win for Florida, even if it is an expected move. Options are slim in the infield. Freshman Brendan Lawson and USF transfer Bobby Boser should back up Shelton.

Cade Kurland is back to hold down second base for a third year in a row, but first and third are open with transfers likely to take over.

Securing the same middle infield from last year should help get the new guys up to speed. Pitchers and catchers don’t have to worry about chemistry on pickoffs after having played with each other already.

Of course, this year is about upping draft stock for Shelton. He came into the 2024 MLB draft as a potential Day 1 pick only to be selected as a Hail Mary option in the final round. The Nationals knew he’d be virtually impossible to sign, but they’d be able to do it if one of their early-round picks ended up passing.

It’s clear that Shelton wanted more than teams were willing to spend on him, but that is the right of draft-eligible sophomores, who hold the most leverage in the entire event.

To earn those extra zeroes, Shelton needs to lower his swing and miss and get back to the 1.000 OPS territory. He finished 2023 with a 1.148 while playing in the SEC.

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Florida baseball adds power-hitting USF transfer via transfer portal

Kevin O’Sullivan has added yet another power bat, former USF infielder Bobby Boser, to Florida’s baseball roster.

Bobby Boser possesses the kind of power that makes elite SEC arms nervous, so it only makes sense for him to finish his college career in the nation’s toughest conference after three years with the South Florida Bulls.

On Wednesday, Boser confirmed his commitment to the Florida Gators.

The three-year Bull was named a 2024 First Team All-Conference selection in the American Athletic despite missing over 22 games with a broken bone in is hand. He batted .299 with 18 extra-base hits, 32 RBI and 28 runs scored.

He leaves USF ranked eighth in program history with 31 career home runs.

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Bobby Boser’s fit at Florida

The former USF infielder has a shot to start at Florida, but his position is unclear at this point. A primary middle infielder in Tampa and the Cape Code League this summer, Boser also has experience at first, third and all three outfield positions.

The expectation is for him to land at one of the corner spots. Jacksonville transfer Justin Nadeau and Texas Tech transfer Landon Stripling are his main competition at first and third.

There’s a world where Colby Shelton moves back to third and Boser takes over at short, but it feels unlikely given Shelton’s desire to prove himself at the position — not to mention Shelton was one of the SEC’s best defensive shortstops a season ago.

[autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag] has a lot to figure out over the next six months, but power plays in Gainesville and Boser has juice.

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Florida RHP Ryan Slater selected in 18th round of 2024 MLB draft

It took a while for a Gator to be called on Day 3 of the 2024 MLB draft, but the San Francisco Giants picked Ryan Slater in the 18th round.

The San Francisco Giants selected Florida right-handed redshirt junior [autotag]Ryan Slater[/autotag] in the 18th round of the 2024 MLB draft on Tuesday.

He is the 224th individual selection in program history and the 109th selection of the [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag] era.

Slater leaves Florida with a 22-7 record and eight saves. He managed a 5.35 ERA and .260 batting average against over 166 2/3 innings and struck out 140 batters to 61 walks.

Slater was one of a few veteran arms in Florida’s bullpen this season, and he started off as perhaps the most trusted relief arm in Gainesville. Opposing bats started to figure him out as the season went on, though, and his ERA ballooned to a career-high 6.70, while batters averaged .302 off of him.

Fortunately, Slater made a name for himself in 2023, both with the Gators and over the summer in the Cape Cod League. The Giants had a trend of drafting arms that excelled in the Cape.

Slater is the last rostered Gator to be drafted and is likely to leave the program. Florida also saw Jac Caglianone, Brandon Neely and Fisher Jameson drafted over the first two days. Colby Shelton was picked in the 20th round, but it’s a Hail Mary shot from the Washington Nationals.

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Florida’s Fisher Jameson gets Day 2 call in 2024 MLB draft

Fisher Jameson is the third Gator to hear his named called during the 2024 MLB draft so far.

The Colorado Rockies selected Florida baseball’s right-handed pitcher [autotag]Fisher Jameson[/autotag] in the 10th round of the 2024 MLB draft with the 288th overall pick on Monday.

He follows first baseman/left-handed pitcher [autotag]Jac Caglianone[/autotag] (Round 1, Pick 6 – Kansas City Royals) and right-hander [autotag]Brandon Neely[/autotag] (Round 3, Pick 86 – Boston Red Sox) as the third Gator selected so far.

The Lake Worth, Florida, native became the 223rd individual draft selection in UF baseball history and the 108th in head coach [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag]’s 17-year tenure. Jameson is the 57th pitcher to be drafted under O’Sullivan, equating to 3.4 per season.

Jameson led all UF hurlers with a 3.99 ERA and 1.15 WHIP this past season — representing the team’s biggest breakout performance among the pitching corps — while also posting a perfect 5-0 record across a team-high 34 appearances. His .237 batting average against ranked second on the team and his 67 2/3 innings were good for third; he also struck out 79 batters against just 18 walks.

Across the team’s final 31 games, Jameson led Florida with 17 appearances, a 3.35 ERA and .226 BAA over 40 1/3 frames. In that span, he delivered a 3-0 record, three saves and 47 strikeouts while issuing only nine free passes. Jameson played a vital role in each of the Gators’ College World Series trips from 2023-24.

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Brandon Neely selected by Boston Red Sox in third round of 2024 MLB draft

Florida right-hander Brandon Neely was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the third round of the 2024 MLB draft on Monday.

Florida right-hander [autotag]Brandon Neely[/autotag] is set to begin his professional baseball career after being picked 86th overall by the Boston Red Sox in the 2024 MLB draft.

Neely was considered a likely Day 2 pick for most of the season, but a brilliant performance in the postseason moved him up most draft boards. Although he snuck outside of the first two rounds, Neely ended up a third-round selection with a slot value of $878,800. The Red Sox have a chance to sign him for a bit less, too.

He is the 222nd draft pick in Florida program history and the 107th pick of the [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag] era. He’s also the 24th O’Sullivan-coached pitcher to go in the first five rounds.

Neely’s career at Florida

As a freshman, it looked like Neely would compete for a spot in the weekend rotation. He made 10 starts, mostly in the midweek but some in the postseason, across 21 appearances while maintaining a 3.76 ERA.

A move to the bullpen took some convincing, but Neely immediately became one of the conference’s best closers. He ended his sophomore campaign as the SEC leader in saves (13) and upped his strikeout rate to an elite 30.1%.

Neely saved his best performances for the final season of his Gators career, though. He delivered seven multi-inning performances in the NCAA Tournament, five of which were scoreless. He earned the win over Oklahoma State in Regionals and shut down Clemson in the Super Regionals.

Despite posting an elevated ERA of 5.13 in 2024, he somehow raised his strikeout rate to 31.4% and became more of a groundball pitcher, which pleases scouts.

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Jac Caglianone selected 6th overall in 2024 MLB draft by Kansas City Royals

Jac Caglianone is headed to the pros! The Gators legend was drafted sixth overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2024 MLB draft.

Florida baseball two-way superstar [autotag]Jac Caglianone[/autotag] was selected sixth overall in the 2024 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals on Sunday night.

Caglianone, a projected top-five pick coming into the draft, saw a bit of a draft-night slide, but he’s still the highest-drafted first baseman in Florida Gators history. Appropriately, Caglianone passed [autotag]Matt LaPorta[/autotag] (seventh overall in 2007) on that list, the same legendary Gators slugger he overtook for the program’s career home run record at the College World Series.

As the sixth overall pick, Caglianone is tied with RHP John Burke (1991) and LHP A.J. Puk (2016) for the fourth-highest drafted Gator, regardless of position.

Caglianone is the 14th first-round selection out of Florida since the start of the [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag] era in 2008. O’Sullivan has produced 106 MLB draft picks with the Gators, with more to come in this draft.

Jac Caglianone as a Florida Gator

Caglianone is among the greatest hitters ever to wear the Orange and Blue. He leaves Florida as the program’s career record holder for home runs (75) and slugging percentage (.760). His home run record is particularly impressive considering he did it over just two and a half seasons.

A pitching prospect with two-way ability out of high school, Caglianone started his Gators career as an expected redshirt freshman recovering from Tommy John surgery. Caglianone likely never makes it to Florida without the elbow injury and perhaps never establishes himself as a viable two-way player at the next level.

After a few Home Run Derby-like performances from Caglianone during batting practice, Kevin O’Sullivan put him into the starting lineup as a designated hitter. Cags never left Florida’s lineup and eventually became the most feared hitter in the SEC.

As a true freshman, Caglianone slashed .288/.339/.548 through 28 games (27 starts) and 104 at-bats. He also homered seven times and drove in 27 batters.

Caglianone followed things up with a Golden Spikes finalist-caliber performance. He upped the slash line to .323/.389/.738 and shattered Wyatt Langford’s single-season program record for homers with 33 — Langford hit 26 in the 2022 season. Caglianone also set the program’s single-season record for runs batted in with 90.

Although it seemed impossible to improve on those numbers, Caglianone did exactly that, somehow missing out on a Golden Spikes finalist nomination in the process. He slashes .419/.544/.875 with 35 home runs and much better metrics.

Caglianone improved his approach at the plate, showing off an elite eye with his pitch selection in the nation’s toughest conference. Oh yeah, he started 34 games as Florida’s regular Sunday starter over two seasons, too.

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Will Jac Caglianone get the chance to be a two-way as a pro?

Shohei Ohtani has opened the door in MLB for a two-way player to ascend to stardom. Will Jac Caglianone get to pitch in the pros?

Before [autotag]Jac Caglianone[/autotag] became the home run king at Florida, he was a pitching prospect starting to unlock some power at the plate.

Odds were slim that Caglianone would even make it to Gainesville until a torn UCL removed him from draft boards across the country. His power fastball from the left side intrigued everyone, especially [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag], who planned on redshirting Caglianone as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.

Sully scrapped that plan two months into the 2022 season and the rest is history. As the Gators skipper tells it, Caglianone’s raw power couldn’t be denied in practice and the doctors cleared him to swing in-game.

It took just three at-bats for Cags to get ahold of one, and 74 more homers later it’s hard to imagine him as anything but one of the most dangerous bats in the game.

At the same time, Caglianone has followed the path most would expect a top-end pitching prospect after undergoing Tommy John. He rehabbed for a year, showed the same velocity in his first season back and cleaned up some command problems while developing his secondaries in 2024.

Yet the scouting community seems to be split on whether it’s worth trying to develop both sides of his game in the minor leagues.

Why aren’t their two-way players in MLB?

Most players are drafted for their bat or their arm, and Caglianone doesn’t have a cheap price tag on him as a projected top-five pick. Developing two things at once takes more time, and first-round picks tend to have a clock on them — at least among the fans who are desperate for one player to turn things around.

Caglianone is still very much a work in progress on the mound, but he could have a [autotag]Wyatt Langford[/autotag]-esque ascension through the minors as a hitter. Most teams won’t pay $8 million and wait for one half of his game to catch up with the other, especially if the MLB-ready half can produce 25-plus home runs a season.

Not can’t or shouldn’t. Won’t.

Baseball might be a slower game than most on the field, but the business side of it demands quick results. It’s why the game only has one two-way star right now.

Shohei Ohtani is the greatest two-way star in the sport since Babe Ruth, but he probably wouldn’t hold that title if he had been born in America. Specialization is the name of the game over here, and he would have been made to pick one or the other by the time he hit the minor leagues.

Playing in the Nippon Professional Baseball league and going straight to MLB through the posting system kept the minor-league system from “beating it out of him.”

At least, that’s what some folks on the developmental side of baseball suggested to CBS Sports recently.

“I think Ohtani would’ve been funneled into hitting,” one specialist said. “He’s very dangerous when he comes to the box, and, to me, the likelihood  a coordinator, coach, agent … whoever it may have been … would have led him that way.”

That doesn’t bode well for Caglianone’s future as a two-way player.

Ultimately, it’s up to the organization that drafts him. Some front offices are willing to give players more time, but a guarantee could also earn a team a discount in the draft.

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