2026 baseball roster thread

Surowiec Named Northwoods League MVP - Florida Gators

 

Tracking Florida baseball summer league performances

 

More good Surowiec news. D1Bsb named him their Summer Breakout Player. The long article went into depth about his commitment to his development in the Northwoods League. They said it was common for players to enjoy the summer with fishing and other outdoors recreation, while Surowiec spent his free time in batting cages, especially working to recognize and adjust to off speed pitches. He already had a great half season and strong all star game when he made his Gvl visit and committed. DiBsb said other transfers didn't return to the Northwoods after finding a new home, but Surowiec went back to Duluth to do more development work. Never having seen him play, this short view makes me look forward to watching him as a Gator. Here are a few excerpts:

• “I didn’t really have the opportunity at Ole Miss, so I just wanted to get as many ABs and as many reps as possible to get ready for the next year,” Surowiec said of his standout summer. “I felt like I was behind and I needed the reps. I spent all the time in the cages working trying to get better and coming out here to Duluth was big for me, showcase what I’m working on, and It was just easier for me to relax. Because I watched SEC baseball [all spring], seeing how those guys played, just helped me elevate my game.”

• For as good as Surowiec was offensively, he took great pride in the strides he made defensively at the hot corner. Upon arriving at Ole Miss his role was essentially that of a first baseman and designated hitter. A part of the reason he opted to transfer was to be given at least an opportunity to compete at the more premium defensive position at third base.

• “I want to step in with everyone and be on the same page, especially being a transfer,” Surowiec said of his new opportunity at Florida. “Having the role that I want to have I think that I can step in and be a leader. But I’m just ready to get there and be a part of the team and part of the program.”

• When asked about his off-field interests over the summer months, Surowiec’s answer didn’t change from the other questions already asked. Although some players may spend their free time enjoying the Upper Midwest’s outdoor recreational opportunities, Surowiec wasn’t interested in much of anything that didn’t help him become a better baseball player. Based on the success he enjoyed with the Duluth Huskies, that determination was evident.

​

 

Sorry to be adding a lot of D1Bsb clips, but they're giving out new Gator info. It can be well worth the subscription. They've started a series rating the top 50 hitting transfers. Gators had two in the 31-40 group. (PS: It's getting near time for some pre-fall predictions. I might start making lists.)

35. Sam Miller, SS, Florida (via Columbia)
Is Miller yet another name to add to the list of superstar Ivy Leaguers who experience success in the nation’s best conferences? It certainly looks like that could be the case. Miller, a 6-foot-2, 180-pounder, brings quite an impressive track record to Gainesville this fall. He hit well over .300 in all three of his seasons with the Lions. His power production increases have been super impressive as well. He hit just three homers his first seasons at CU before smacking 12 two seasons ago and hitting 16 more this past season with a 1.013 OPS. Miller has been a consistent producer and has a ton of experience. Those two attributes usually go a long way in a league like the SEC.
33.
33. Jaden Bastian, OF, Florida (via Jacksonville)
Bastian is a do-it-all type of addition for Kevin O’Sullivan’s Gators. The athletic 5-foot-10, 180-pounder is coming off an impressive across the board campaign for the Dolphins last season. Bastian finished last season with a .302 average (a 40-point average increase from two seasons ago) along with 10 doubles, five triples, 11 homers and 33 RBIs. Bastian also walked 39 times, had a .985 OPS and is a big-time base-stealing threat for the Gators after swiping 36 last season. ​

 

Jeez! Another D1Bsb ranking. This one has three of the four Gator position recruits ranked among the top 100 frosh that made it to campus. Nic Partridge #22, Cash Strayer #37, Colton Schwarz #55. Frosh pitcher rankings soon. Ten SEC teams had four or more on the list.

Edited.

 

Surprised Jacob Kendall, an OF signee out of St. Augustine, was not on the list. Like the other three listed (really like Strayer), he is a top prospect also.

 

Gators Baseball Update - Florida Gators

https://www.gatorsports.com/story/s...oach-kevin-osullivan-for-3-games/85891951007/

 

Bogus, but now over, I hope. I also hope Coastal's handling of the matter is viewed appropriately when future Regional sites are determined, but doubtful.

 

Everything seems to go into the “woke” pile these days.

 

This suspension was not from the NCAA, but from our wonderful AD. Sheesh!!!

 

AD—“Added Deficiency”?

 

I'm sure it has slipped your mind that the NCAA is the source of most evil in college sports, sharing shame with idiotic rich boosters. Sorry, but the suspension was the negotiated penalty among NCAA, UF and Sully. I won't argue that either UF or Sully should refuse to negotiate or agree to a moderate penalty.

The NCAA has handled it wrong, beginning with their rep at the Regional- until recently, the Carolina coach- who was the primary culprit of the foulup and Sully's target. Sully lost his cool, but not control. The blessing out by Sully fit the crimes of the NCAA rep, but the Carolina coach went public. NCAA defended their guy and Sully's swearing- they were SHOCKED! SHOCKED! that a coach would use the f word- made it even easier than their normal hypocricy would. NCAA mostly is wonderful, sometimes they are unforgivably stupid.

 

Nothing has slipped my mind, Mr. Springsteen, and I'm not a fan of the NCAA. For decades they have shown double standards in the way they mete out punishment or respond to any real issue of importance and they stuck their heads in the sand while NIL blew up all around them and opened the Pandora's Box that can never be fixed. But please show me the link that says the NCAA, UF and O'Sullivan "negotiated" this 3 game suspension. Or is that your speculation and educated guess? You may be right - I just haven't seen that stated. I take what happened at face value and blame Scott Stricklin. Although what happened at Coastal with their non-notification of the change in start time for the game with East Carolina was unethical, IMO, Sully was wrong in how he handled his response and should have shown more class. But our AD should have had his back. SS, to me, is a woke wimp.

 

If Scott Stricklin bought a horse it would be a gelding, right?

 

SS might say Neigh to that.....

 

I agree with so much of what you say that I hesitate to say more, but you're more willing than I to let NCAA get away with this garbage. I'm not defending Stricklin by believing he and Sully had no options. NCAA determined Sully's actions a violation. THAT is the real error here and the only way NCAA can officially ignore the incompetence of their own rep.

Sully's salty language gave them an escape, as you said, "Sully was wrong in how he handled his response." That language was technically a violation based on the rule cited by NCAA and allows them to impose that penalty. SS probably discussed an appeal with Sully, but I can't imagine Sully wanting to extend this stupidity. Do you really believe there is value to Gators for this unwinnable battle to continue a few more months? Remember the appeal is made to and decided by other NCAA bureaucrats.

Gripe about Stricklin as much as you wish, but THIS was an NCAA screw up from the first moment. BTW you're right that I have no link to prove there was a "negotiation" but I do believe there was communication among the parties between the time of the offense and the time of the latest announcement and that is what I referred to as negotiation.

I'll be bitter about this for years to come. I've always heckled the old guy who has been the NCAA rep for many UF Regionals, and now I can complain about this event, in addition to his own behavior.

 

NIL castrated the NCAA—plain and simple. Their rulings are always second level now.

 

One to add:

8. Ethan Surowiec, INF, Florida (via Ole Miss)
The physical 6-foot-1, 230-pounder, will be one of the more interesting players to watch when the 2026 campaign commences. Surowiec didn’t have a huge role for the Rebels in 2025, hitting .375 with two homers and eight RBIs in just 16 at-bats. So, he hit the transfer portal to Florida. Surowiec played like a player with a new lease on life this past summer at the Northwoods League, earning our Summer Breakout Player of the Year Award because of his performance up north. For the Duluth Huskies this past summer, Surowiec hit .387 with 23 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs and 68 RBIs. All of that with a wood bat at a prestigious summer league. I’d say that’s impressive.
The physical 6-foot-1, 230-pounder, will be one of the more interesting players to watch when the 2026 campaign commences. Surowiec didn’t have a huge role for the Rebels in 2025, hitting .375 with two homers and eight RBIs in just 16 at-bats. So, he hit the transfer portal to Florida. Surowiec played like a player with a new lease on life this past summer at the Northwoods League, earning our Summer Breakout Player of the Year Award because of his performance up north. For the Duluth Huskies this past summer, Surowiec hit .387 with 23 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs and 68 RBIs. All of that with a wood bat at a prestigious summer league. I’d say that’s impressive. ​

 

Where does Surowiec fit in defensively?

 

I don't know....3rd base!