With the 2023 baseball season officially coming to an end, Gator Country provides a Florida baseball mailbag, answering all your Gator baseball questions.
rxgator1: I’d like to know what you expect the starting rotation to be next year. Seems like we have several options with Neely; Slater; Fischer and Cags. Then there’s the UCLA Grad transfer and Coppola who could be part of the mix.
NM: Jac Caglianone, Brandon Neely, Cade Fisher, Pierce Coppola and Kelly Austin are among the group that could be considered front runners for a weekend spot.
If Coppola is fully healthy in 2024, I think he’ll earn a starting role on the weekend. I also think Brandon Neely is a likely candidate to earn a starting role. Although, it’s not impossible that Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan liked what he saw from Neely as Florida’s closer and wants to keep him there. Jac Caglianone is the returning Sunday starter, but his inconsistencies may draw some question marks moving forward. I think trying him out in the bullpen could make the most sense here.
There’s a solid chance that UCLA transfer Kelly Austin doesn’t make it to Gainesville with the MLB draft looming, so I’m going to leave him off my prediction.
Friday: Piece Coppola
Saturday: Brandon Neely
Sunday: Cade Fisher
snatchmagnet: What’s ur honest opinion of copella return?
NM: LHP Piece Coppola has a chance to do great things in Gainesville if he stays healthy. As of now, he’s on track to be fully healthy by the 2024 season.
OklahomaGator: Which of our signees do we need to look out for in the baseball draft?
NM: Right-handed pitchers Liam Peterson, Steven Echavarria, Luke McNeillie, and Christian Rodriguez are all top 100 high school prospects, according to Perfect Game. Florida has 17 commits in the 2023 class right now and I do not expect all 17 to make it to campus.
82Gator: Are they expecting Jake Clemente to be back healthy next season, and if so, is he good enough to be considered a candidate to be in starting rotation?
(I see the UCLA transfer as more of a middle reliever who can give you several innings)
NM: Florida’s staff is very high on Jake Clemente; I just don’t think he’ll be a weekend guy in his first year on the mound. I see him as a candidate for the midweek starts, at least early on in the season.
UCLA transfer Kelly Austin is certainly a candidate to start, if he makes it to campus. He struck out 104 batters in 82.1 innings of work while earning a 2023 Third Team All American selection.
macbgator: Who will be our starting 9 next year?
NM: This is extremely difficult to answer right now as the Gators are likely not done in the portal and we haven’t heard from some juniors that need to make a decision to go pro or not.
Here’s my way too early starting nine for the 2024 season.
- 2B Cade Kurland
- 3B Colby Shelton
- 1B Jac Caglianone
- DH Luke Heyman
- RF Ty Evans
- C Tanner Garrison
- LF Tyler Shelnut
- SS Stone Russell
- CF Michael Robertson
Once again, I can only use players that Florida currently has committed or signed, but Florida is not done in the transfer portal.
candymanfromgc: What does Robertson need to do to improve his hitting. The way he tanked is a mystery to me. But love his defense in CF
NM: Michael Robertson struggled against SEC pitching, like many guys do throughout the course of a season.
I think the key for Robertson is to simplify his approach. He struck out 47 times while walking in just 33 at bats. Putting the ball on the ground will result in positive outcomes with Robertson’s speed. With only one home run on the season, Robertson needs to find other ways to be effective at the plate.
nsbgator: Were the Gators involved with Dylan Crews recruiting ?
NM: Yes, but LSU was Crews’ dream school.
asmith1460: For the players that hit the transfer portal are there any you see withdrawing from the portal and staying at UF?
NM: It’s not impossible as Florida wasn’t showing the door to most of the portal entries, but with a stacked lineup again next year, I doubt it. These guys want to play.