Tag: Kyle Jones

Florida starting CF Michael Robertson enters transfer portal

After three years and 104 starts with the Florida Gators, centerfielder Michael Robertson is hitting the transfer portal.

The Florida Gators will have a new face in center field next season with redshirt sophomore [autotag]Michael Robertson[/autotag] hitting the transfer portal on Tuesday.

Robertson made 104 starts for Florida over two seasons after redshirting as a freshman due to injury. He slashed .243/.341/.318 with three home runs and 45 runs batted in. He also stole 16 bases in 20 attempts.

Speed is Robertson’s best tool. It makes him a true centerfielder with plus range and a good nose for the ball. He also has zero fear, which can be to his detriment at times but more often rewards the fans with a web gem.

Being a lefty, Robertson struggled against southpaw arms until the very end of his tenure in Gainesville. Something clicked late, though, and Robertson became a threat at the bottom of the order by slapping balls to the left side.

In 2023, he showed promise with 33 walks to 47 strikeouts, but he finished 2024 with just 12 walks and 46 punchouts in 36 fewer plate appearances. If Robertson can bring that walk rate back up and continue hitting the way he did at the end of the year, he’s a leadoff hitter somewhere in the Power Four

Who replaces Robertson in center field?

The move makes sense for Robertson after two years of fighting to stay in center at Florida. Kevin O’Sullivan brought in Stetson centerfielder [autotag]Kyle Jones[/autotag], who looks like a starter, putting the writing on the wall.

Not to mention, Florida also brought in [autotag]Jaylen Guy[/autotag] from Liberty to platoon in center, but he couldn’t hit consistently enough to outright take the job from Robertson. Jones is a different story and looks like the leadoff hitter Sully always wanted Robertson to be.

The other angle here is that Robertson is draft-eligible. If Florida failed to bring in a starting-caliber centerfielder and Robertson got a strong enough offer to go pro, the Gators have a big hole to fill. Now Robertson can hit the portal, find a guaranteed starting job, or take the money in the draft.

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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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