Florida’s 2025 season has to come to an end, which means the Gators will start looking in the transfer portal to replace their transfers, seniors, and juniors that may enter the MLB Draft. While Florida only recognized four seniors this year, it’s expected that Kevin O’Sullivan’s staff will replace roughly half their roster with a number of draft eligible juniors and a hefty dose of players expected to enter the transfer portal. It’s important to note that Florida’s high school class consists of 10 players, but as we all know, it’s fair to assume one or two players don’t make it to campus to start their pro careers early. It’s too early to gauge interest from specific players in the portal, but Gator Country provides three positions Florida should target this offseason.
CATCHER
The number one priority this offseason should be a catcher as Luke Heyman is likely heading to the MLB Draft after a terrific junior season. Florida has junior catcher Brody Donay, but he might also declare for the draft with some of the most raw power in college baseball, something that has caught the eye of scouts. Even if Donay does return to Gainesville for his senior season, Florida will look to add a catcher who is better defensively. O’Sullivan has a sound track record here as a former catcher himself, adding players such as BT Riopelle, Tanner Garrison, and Brody Donay in recent years.
SUNDAY STARTER
You have to feel pretty good on the starting pitching side of things if you’re Florida’s staff as the Gators are set to return Friday night starter Liam Peterson and freshman phenom Aidan King, who very well may enter the 2026 season as the Preseason SEC Pitcher of the Year. Depending on Pierce Coppola’s decision, Florida will have an opening on the weekend rotation, and they should really look into making a splash addition. While the narrative floating around is that Kevin O’Sullivan doesn’t take starting pitchers in the portal, it’s not exactly true as he’s added Southern Miss’s Hurston Waldrep and UCLA’s Kelly Austin, who never made it to campus as he went the MLB route. In two of the last three seasons, O’Sullivan has attempted to add a weekend caliber pitcher to the rotation. I expect Florida will look to add a Sunday starter this offseason.
SHORTSTOP
With shortstop Colby Shelton likely heading to the MLB after improving in several areas during his junior season, Florida will be on the hunt for their next shortstop. It’s important to note that Jordan Yost, the brother of current Gator Hayden Yost, is one of Florida’s top high school recruits and could be the teams starting shortstop as early as game one of his freshman year. Of course Yost has to actually make it to campus for this to be a possibility, but there’s belief that he will. Even if Yost is Florida’s starting shortstop, the Gators also lose third baseman Bobby Boser, so an infielder will likely be in the cards either way.
These three positions won’t be the only additions Florida makes, but these are the most glaring issues entering the offseason that need to be addressed. I expect the Gators to also look into a power hitting outfielder.