One of the few positives about your 2025 season coming to an end is the full attention you can give the transfer portal. The Gators have worked quickly since the portal opened on June 2nd, receiving their first commitment of the offseason when Notre Dame RHP Ricky Reeth pledged to the Gators on June 5th.
Reeth, a 6’4, 190-pound RHP from Windermere, Florida, played a significant role in Notre Dame’s 32-21 (14-16 ACC) season, who just missed the cut for the NCAA Tournament. Reeth held a 4-2 record while pitching to a 4.31 ERA in 22 appearances, all of which came in relief. Reeth is a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility left.
Veteran bullpen arm
It’s no secret that Florida didn’t have enough bullpen arms last season. The Gators would often rely on one or two guys for an entire weekend series, which would come back to bite them from time to time. Reeth brings you the experience Florida just didn’t have in their bullpen last year having thrown 112.2 innings over his last three seasons. Reeth threw the 4th most innings (48.0) last season for a Notre Dame team that made a second half push for a postseason berth. 46 of Reeth’s 47 career appearances are in relief, so he’s a guy that’s clearly comfortable with his role and has improved every season. Reeth also recorded three saves in 2025.
Strike thrower
The Gators are looking for guys that can eat up innings on the weekend. Gator Nation will be happy to know that Reeth is a strike thrower having walked just 12 batters in 48 innings last season and 22 batters in his last 96.1 innings pitched, which equates to a walks per nine innings of 2.1. Reeth seems like a good fit for a team that’s really struggled to throw strikes across the last two seasons.
Three pitch mix
While Reeth looks to get outs with his low 90’s sinker ball, he’s fully capable of drawing swing and miss with his slider and changeup. According to Jacob Rudner of Baseball America, Reeth’s slider has a 45% whiff rate and a 40% chase rate while his changeup holds a 42% whiff rate and a 51% chase rate. Reeth struck out 43 batters in 48 innings last season. Reeth holds a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.58, which is well above the 3-1 mark Florida asks from their pitchers.
Reeth is one of many Notre Dame players currently in the portal, including rising junior catcher Carson Tinney who Florida is in the running for. It’s worth noting that Tinney caught quite a few pitches from Reeth last year.