Tag: Tyler Shelnut

5 major takeaways from Florida’s opening-series sweep over Charleston Southern

We learned a lot about the 2023 Florida baseball team over the weekend, and the good news is they might be even better than we thought before the season started.

Florida baseball began its season the right way over the weekend with a sweep of Charleston Southern that saw the Gators outscore the Buccaneers 37-5 over three games.

Things could have been even more one-sided, too. Both programs agreed to a 10-run mercy rule for the series, and Florida ended each of the first two games by the seventh. The Gators threatened a third-straight mercy-rule win on Sunday, but only scored eight runs and played the first nine-inning game of the season.

It’s too early to declare the team Omaha-bound, but Florida looked strong in every phase of the game through the first weekend of the season. That said, there’s an entire season left to play and the players have to endure a tough SEC schedule before getting to the postseason. Things could look very different in just a few weeks.

But right now, Florida looks just as good as advertised and there aren’t many negatives to take away from opening weekend.

2023 Baseball Season Preview: Second Basemen

Florida’s top options at second might be a transfer and a true freshman, but it’s still one of the team’s deeper positions heading into the 2023 season.

Florida didn’t lose its second baseman from 2022, but he did move to a different position, freeing up a spot for some new faces to compete over.

Last year, [autotag]Colby Halter[/autotag] held things down at second for most of the year but shifted to third base when [autotag]Deric Fabian[/autotag] was benched. Right fielder [autotag]Sterlin Thompson[/autotag] moved into the infield and held down second for the remainder of the year.

Over the offseason, Kevin O’Sullivan added infielder [autotag]Dale Thomas[/autotag] through the transfer portal and got true freshman [autotag]Cade Kurland[/autotag] a year early after reclassification. Both have looked sharp since joining the team, but there’s also Fabian to consider.

Much like first base, Florida might be figuring out who its starting second baseman is on a day-by-day basis. O’Sullivan has a lot of talent to manage, and the best answer might be to keep shuffling the players until something sticks.

Here’s a look at Florida’s options at second base.

2023 Baseball Season Preview: First Basemen

Florida’s talent pool is deep at first base heading into the 2023 season and could wind up being one of Florida’s most improved positions this year.

Florida has at least three players that could see significant time at first base this season, and it could end up being one of the stronger spots on the team in 2023.

The Gators lost [autotag]Kendrick Calilao[/autotag] to graduation and [autotag]Kris Armstrong[/autotag] to the transfer portal (Jacksonville), leaving catcher [autotag]BT Riopelle[/autotag] as the only returning player with significant time at the position. Riopelle played a decent amount of first base in the second half of the season, partially to get some rest but also because of a surging [autotag]Mac Guscette[/autotag], who isn’t with the team this year.

Riopelle won’t be the main cornerman this year at Florida, though. At least he shouldn’t be if the rising talent lives up to some lofty expectations set over the offseason. [autotag]Jac Caglianone[/autotag], who primarily served as a designated hitter in 2022 after a relatively swift return from Tommy John surgery, will play the field this year, and he’ll also pitch.

The other major player in this rotation will be Sante Fe transfer [autotag]Tyler Shelnut[/autotag]. He could wind up elsewhere by the end of the season, but Kevin O’Sullivan is eyeing first base for him to start the season out. [autotag]Deric Fabian[/autotag] is also an option, but he’s another guy who could see time at multiple positions.