2026 baseball roster thread

Seems like there’s lots of confidence in Kurland returning

 

Yeah, his brother’s supposed to be coming in also.

 

So it has been cut from 40 to 34 players on the roster, correct? Are we allowed to have people in the wings like a practice squad who can roll on the roster in case of injuries, etc.?

 

Bullpen catchers are non roster student athletes. Not sure why you couldn't have other student support staff that could help with practice. They give up their eligibility though, and I doubt many guys who could actually help the team would be willing to sit in that kind of role. Probably better off playing a pitcher in a position than trying to have some type of practice squad or reserves anyway. Lots of them hit and played in the field through hs and travel ball and are more proven d1 athletes.

 

You're right that support staff routinely fill in when needed during practices. It's not unusual for the same managers you see chasing foul balls and dragging the field after 3rd and 7th innings to fill a scrimmage position on the field- no batting.

That 34 is a hard number. It is not affected by whether a player is a walk on or has a scholly. What has not been announced is the date teams must name their 34. If the date is before school starts in August or September, there is no help if one or two or six or more guys have season-ending injuries. It's one thing to have the roster shrink during the season and another to have to start the season without players for some positions or for an adequate/competent bullpen. Gators recently have ended seasons running short of players, but it would be especially painful to START a season short-handed.

However, the deadline to cut to 34 might be after fall term which could leave the cut guys looking for a place to go play- about the same situation we have seen for many years. The later date might generate a miniature version of the summer transfer season. That seems to mean talent moving downward when guys cut at top tiers move to teams who need them.

 

DiBsb has assessed roster condition for SEC teams and had a few useful comments for the Gators. Much of the Gator segment listed on returning players and the portal, but here are comments about Gator frosh that add to our discussion.

Florida could get a boost in prep shortstop Jordan Yost if he opts to attend school. The younger brother of Hayden Yost, his draft stock has risen, making the summer an interesting one. Prep shortstops Nicolas Partridge and Colton Schwarz, and outfielders Jacob Kendall and Cash Strayer could also get into the mix... Florida also has a crop of freshmen pitchers who could help if they make it through the draft. Keep an eye on Aaron Watson, Cooper Moss, Jackson Hoyt, Minjae Seo, Eli Blair, Rivers Kurland (Cade’s brother), and Samuel Lovitz. ​

 

OFF TOPIC POST

Sorry, but any Gator sports fan should spend a moment reading the announcement of a new Lax assistant. The guy had a superrior 4 years playing Lax at MD, then transferred to a D II school to play football for a year as QB for the D II champions. Later played WR for Falcons with a nice game-winning TD in a preseason game, had a year in the CFL, too. Imagine Tebow playing Lax.
Florida Lacrosse Hires Jared Bernhardt as Assistant Coach - Florida Gators