GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Get ready, baseball fans! The Florida Gators baseball team is back on campus, kicking off fall practice on Monday, October 6, at Condron Family Ballpark. And guess what? Fans can come and watch!
This fall, the Gators will play two exhibition games. The first is on Halloween against Jacksonville University at Vystar Ballpark in Jacksonville. Then, on Sunday, November 9, they’ll host Georgia Southern in Gainesville. Details about times and tickets for the Florida-JU game will be shared soon.
All practices and intrasquad scrimmages are open to the public. Each week, you can check the latest practice schedules at FloridaGators.com or follow @GatorsBB on social media for updates.
In some important news, Athletics Director Scott Stricklin announced that Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan will start the season with a three-game suspension due to past actions at the 2025 NCAA Conway Regional. “We stand by our standards,” Stricklin said. O’Sullivan has accepted responsibility and aims to improve as a leader.
The Gators are retaining 22 players from last year’s NCAA Regional squad, including five starters: Brendan Lawson (1B), Cade Kurland (2B), Blake Cyr (LF), Justin Nadeau (CF), and Hayden Yost (RF). Additionally, key contributors like Ashton Wilson and Landon Stripling are back, along with rising junior Kyle Jones, who missed most of last season due to injuries.
To strengthen the team further, Florida utilized the transfer portal, adding players such as Karson Bowen, a standout catcher from TCU, and Sam Miller, the Ivy League Player of the Year from Columbia. They’ll join a strong returning cast on the field.
The true highlight, however, lies in the pitching lineup. The Gators are expected to lead with Liam Peterson, seen as the ace, and Aidan King, a 2025 Freshman All-American. They form a dominant starting rotation along with several key returning pitchers like Jackson Barberi and Christian Rodriguez.
Recent surveys show that college baseball viewership is on the rise. Fans are excited about the upcoming season, sharing their hopes on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, where #GoGators is trending.
Coach O’Sullivan begins his 19th year with a track record of 756 wins and a strong .671 winning percentage. This seasoned leadership combined with fresh talent may well set the stage for an exciting season ahead.
For more updates about the Gators and their practices, check out the official Twitter and Instagram pages.
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