It’s officially game week as the Florida Gators will start their 2024 season on February 16th, the first of a three-game series against St John’s. Gator Country continues our preseason coverage by breaking down each position group on Florida’s roster.
SHORTSTOP
Florida was tasked with replacing Second Team All-American shortstop Josh Rivera this offseason, who set career highs in hits (89), batting average (.348), OBP (.447), slugging percentage (.617), homers (19), doubles (10), RBI (72), runs scored (70), walks (46), sacrifice flies (five) and stolen bases (18) during the 2023 season. Rivera was later selected in the third round of the MLB Draft. Florida added several players at this position, including a number of transfer portal prospects.
Starter: Colby Shelton
The Alabama transfer was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball after launching 25 home runs in 2023, setting the Alabama freshman home run record while finishing 7th Nationally. Shelton batted .300 with 10 doubles and one triple while posting a slugging percentage of .729, which ranked 6th in the SEC. If there was one thing to nitpick from an offensive standpoint it would be his strikeout numbers. The 6’0, 200-pound left-handed batter struck out on 30% of his at bats in his lone season with the Crimson Tide, totaling 61 strikeouts in 2023, the 2nd most on Alabama.
Defensively, Shelton does not cover nearly as much ground as Gators’ 2023 shortstop Josh Rivera. While there have been no major deficiencies in the field for the sophomore, he is not going to make the flashy plays Rivera did while wearing the Orange and Blue. Primarily a third baseman with Alabama, Shelton is relatively new to the position but has seemed to make a smooth transition. His arm strength doesn’t appear to be an issue either, although not as strong as Rivera’s.
Backup: Armando Albert
FAU transfer Armando Albert has impressed me throughout preseason, particularly as of late. The senior infielder started 112 games for the Owls, slashing .263/.417/.382 across 437 at bats. Albert totaled 11 home runs, three triples, 121 runs, 49 RBI, and 28 stolen bases in his career with FAU. His best season came in 2023, which is always a good sign for transfers. The 5’11, 160-pound shortstop slashed .274/.425/.407 with six home runs and 25 RBI while drawing 47 walks in 58 games. Albert finished the 2023 season on a 31-game reached base streak.
Albert only posted a .929 fielding percentage across 482 defensive chances (primarily at shortstop) at FAU, but he seems to be a much better defensive player than his numbers would indicate based on what I’ve seen in preseason. Albert has elite speed, acceleration, and can cover a lot of ground quickly, which you will also see on the base paths. Offensively, Albert has been pretty consistent in his approach throughout preseason. He’s going to reach base frequently due to his eye at the plate and ability to draw walks. He also possesses more power than you might think by looking at his frame. Not likely to hit for a high average against SEC pitching but has the ability to hit the ball to all parts of the field and doesn’t swing and miss a whole lot.
Insider Take
Shelton is Florida’s everyday starter at shortstop, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Albert appears in plenty of games this as a defensive replacement, as Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan loves to do late in ballgames. Albert could also be used as a pinch runner given his speed on the base paths. Dale Thomas and Landon Russell are other options at shortstop.
Shelton appears to be turning it on at the plate over the last few weeks, which is a good sign for Gator Nation. While the power he possessed last year has been somewhat absent in preseason, he’s starting to frequently hit the ball hard. Shelton will hit towards the top of Florida’s lineup.