Tag: Nathan Hickey

Nathan Hickey set up to be a leader after huge 2021 season

Hickey was one of Florida’s top players in 2021, and he should be poised for a dominant 2022 season.

Name: Nathan Hickey

Number: 11

Position: Catcher/Infielder

Class: Freshman (COVID-19)

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 205 lbs

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

High School: Providence School

2021 statistics:

G PA R H HR RBI BB K BA OBP SLG
60 278 40 71 9 50 42 40 .317 .435 .522

Overview:

A high school First Team All-American at Providence in Jacksonville, Nathan Hickey was the No. 15 catcher and No. 162 player overall in the class of 2019, according to Perfect Game. He committed to coach Kevin O’Sullivan and the Gators, where he saw immediate action.

Hickey started 13 of 17 games before the season was canceled, and he appeared in 15 of them. He was second on the team in batting average (.311) and home runs (four). Though COVID-19 ended the season before Hickey could really hit his stride, he entered his “COVID” freshman season in 2021 expected to be one of the best players in the lineup.

He mostly lived up to that, making the Newcomer All-SEC Team and the SEC All-Tournament Team. He started all 60 games (one of just two players to do so) and his .317 batting average led the team. With nine home runs and 50 RBI, he was one of the most productive players in all of the SEC.

Defensively, he struggled at catcher throughout the season, but a decision during the SEC Tournament to move him to third base paid off, as he looked much better at that position. With younger catcher Mac Guscette able to take up that mantle, Hickey could very likely enter the 2022 season as the starter at third base, once again.

A guy who should almost certainly be an early-round pick next year, Hickey should be one of the best players on the team, if not the conference.

Video:

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This trio of Gators earned SEC All-Tournament honors

Jacob Young, Nate Hickey and Sterlin Thompson all earned All-Tournament Team honors for their performances in Hoover this week.

Though the Gators didn’t come out on top this weekend in Hoover at the SEC Tournament, their performance certainly drew some attention. Florida went 3-1 en route to the semifinals, and that included a 13-1 run-rule victory over the No. 8 team in the country in Mississippi State.

It shouldn’t be surprising that, aside from tournament champion Arkansas and runner-up Tennessee, UF has the most players on the All-Tournament Team with three.

When talking about Florida’s play this week, the first player that comes to mind is Jacob Young, who had perhaps the hottest bat in Hoover. Among players with five or more at-bats, Young finished with the highest batting average at .471 (8-for-17). He also had two home runs, a double and five RBI.

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As the leadoff hitter, the Gators will need Young to stay hot heading into regional play next weekend. But luckily, the two-hole hitter isn’t a bad option, either. Nate Hickey made the switch this week from catcher to third base, a move coach Kevin O’Sullivan said would’ve been made earlier in the season had Mac Guscette not suffered an injury. Hickey shined at third defensively, and he hit a homer on a 6-of-14 week at the plate. He was rightly given a spot on the All-Tournament Team alongside Young for his efforts.

Last (but certainly not least) true freshman Sterlin Thompson continues to impress down the home stretch of the season. He’s been one of Florida’s most consistent batters this season, and he hit a homer to go with two doubles and five RBI in Hoover. In the win over MSU, he hit two extra-base hits, and in the victory against Alabama he went 3-for-4 at the plate.

Though UF’s run only resulted in the No. 15 overall national seed, its performance should be a confidence-building one heading into NCAA regionals.

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