2026 baseball roster thread

Depending on what his power arm slot is you could be absolutely correct.

 

12-6 is old school but the best curveball.

Three quarter arm slot needs a good slider instead.

 

To me competing as a pitcher or competing as a coach—either way, the hammer curveball and the “dot” slider were the hardest two pitches to keep separated. So many guys turned them both into slurves…

The drills we did to keep them separated and on track were legit—I just don’t see many pitchers that can throw both pitches and keep them distinctly apart.

 

I put this in the tread about jb getting hurt but it probably belongs here more:

Based on fall ball, Cade’s back up is nadeau. SS is where I think b-law ends up except when McDonald pitches, then he’ll be at first. Ethan at third with strip being the back up on both corners. Haven’t been all that impressed with miller, Myers might be the better defender but b-law’s bat will give him a spot, I think there. The one catcher, #14 is the only one I’d trust behind the plate (he’s the d1 transfer). The other two are liabilities defensively. Ashton has been taking reps as a catcher just incase and is just as good as those two from what I’ve seen. Yost, Cyr (currently hurt with a wrist brace on), and kj are our outfielders. Brookins, McDonald, and b-law will split dh when not on the field.

For reference I make it to about 40% of the practices/scrimmages. Usually get to talk baseball with the coaches and players when I’m there.

 

Only other lineup might be Lawson 1st, Kurland 2nd, Miller SS, Surowiec 3rd and McDonald DH but only if Miller improves defensively.

 

My way to early lineup is:
1 KJ
2 Cade
3 Ethan
4 McDonald
5 Brookins
6 B-Law
7 Karson
8 Cyr
9 Yost

which feels really strong.

 

Nice guesses that may be accurate, as long as that's also the list of the top hitters. I haven't seen any position with fewer the 3 potential starters. Nor have I seen any defensive performance that would out weigh a .280 batting average (Wait, I'd have to exclude Wilson's performance at C). There are some guys who have some experience that ought to be considered, too, but I'd be very happy with a star frosh breaking in at any position. By early Feb. I might have a lineup in mind.

 

https://www.gatorcountry.com/florid...gators-take-game-one-8-2-vs-georgia-southern/

 

The GS scrimmages provided good reinforcement for my observations of Gators scrimmages this fall. I feel more confident about this group than any since 2023, with the important difference that no one has shown clear signs of breaking out big next season. We could use a Wyatt or Jac. Some- both pitchers and hitters- show huge potential.

I wasn't surprised by the scrimmage #1 lineup against GS, which may be different for the opening game, but might be exactly right. Injuries are something we always face. I know Bastian's broken leg was bad, but I haven't heard from an authoritative source if he's out for the season. His return would make the OF race even tougher. Cyr has missed several recent scrimmages and Lawson didn't play. I don't know if any pitchers are out, but Cooper Walls looked like a possible Sunday starter in his scrimmage work, but he hasn't pitched in a couple of weeks. Here IMHO are the likely starters.

C- Bowen appears to be at the top, certainly for his top level experience, but his fall work has been limited by what I gather are short term injuries. He has been catching, but has had his throwing and batting limited. In scrimmages, including GS, he didn't make throws to 2nd. Malzone and Sanford will play a lot and hit well enough to get some ABs at DH. FYI, there is a good, brief video of the catchers on the Gator Bsb page.

1B- Stripling has the lead until Lawson returns. Lawson has missed time late in the fall, but I assume he'll be the stronger hitter and will take the job. Strip has been a solid, steady player and will see the field a lot this season. McDonald has some pop, but needs to hit well consistently to break in. Surowiek can play first, as well.

2B- Kurland can be a star this year- bat .300, 20 HR- I hope. Nadeau and Myers were the top backups this fall. Schwarz and Partridge practiced at 2B, SS and 3B all fall, but likely will sit out the season.

SS- Mills appears to have won the position, but Myers played well and may be the top candidate in 2027. He also will be available at 2B or 3B.

3B- Surowiek is the clear leader because of his bat. Lawson and Myers can play if he's out.

OF- Yost and Jones seem set. (Yost is my pick for the Breakout Gator, but he may not keep up with Surowiek.) If Bastien returns, he starts. Cyr was reliable and I anticipate he'll win the third spot with a good season at the plate. Wilson will be ready to step in if one of those falters and Nadeau is available. I have liked Brookens from the time he arrived, but he's a mystery. He hadn't done well enough to play until the team needed him last year and he gave up his redshirt. That made me like him even more. He gets a high proportion of extra base hits and a higher proportion of strikeouts. He'll appear at DH and will get some OF innings. I saw Strayer as the frosh most likely to play this year, Kendall is promising and will play if he hits.

There are others here who can assess the pitchers better than I, but I can tell Pete is our ace. I didn't see King pitch, but he should be even better this year. McNeillie looked very good all fall and was in top form against GaSouthern, but last season, he wasn't able to sustain that form for the number of innings demanded of a starter. I saw Wells at least 3 times and expect good things. He might be able to force McNeillie into the closer roll. I gather that Writenour is in line for closer, so far, and he has been effective when I've seen him. Barbieri may be first guy out of the bullpen. Lugo-Canchola looked very promising, but I'd be interested in an assessment of his pitching from someone who knows more. Among transfers, Reeth and Sandefer will get some innings, but were a bit behind Wells. Of the other returning arms, Barlow and McDonald will get regular innings if they maintain their fall level. Biemiller didn't have many fall innings, but LHPs are a special commodity. Returners Rodriguez and Jenkins both struggled all fall. Both have been said to have promising stuff, but can't find the plate when a batter stands next to it. Among the frosh pitchers, Hoyt likely will get innings. RKurland likely will, too, but he has a lot of work ahead to be the star his brother is. There are few guys on the staff who couldn't end up starting midweek games.

It's a good team that, barring injuries, should host a Regional Beyond that, I have my normal blind optimism. Any contrary opinions may prove brighter than mine.

 

Very good observation Boss Man...
I agree with every position for now. I too think this team looks better than the last few. I would give McDonald a better shot for playing time if they want another RHH against a LHP as the DH. The unknown is how much will they use McD on the mound. That said if Lawson goes down McD might get time at first. Let's see how they hit this spring.
I'm not much of a contributor for pitching either but I do have some wait and see issues. I see Peterson by far the ace coming out of the fall. AK looks like he is working on some things like LP did last fall so I'm waiting to see how AK is in late spring action. I haven't seen Walls. ELC has been better than I expected. Whritenour could be the surprise this year. The spring always brings a few what happened to him questions so let's wait and see.
Edit: After today I deleted my comment on RK. Oof

 

Florida’s 2026 Recruiting Class Ranked Top-Six Nationally - Florida Gators

I can't find the names, though. Should be posted in a day or so.

 

These are commitments. I hope they all signed and that they show up. Big OF sounds especially interesting.
Florida - Perfect Game Baseball Player College Commitments

 

The link you posted goes to next year's commitment list, I'm pretty sure. I tried to post the link to the 2025 list, which would be the guys who signed a few days ago, plus the 2 who signed with MLB in July. But when I opened the link it still came up with the 2026 list. You have to change it to the 2025 grad year to see the guys who would have signed this week. I'm still waiting on the official UF article that gives the actual names of the signees.

 

Wouldn't 2026 be the next incoming group. The 2025 group is this years freshman class.

 

Yes - But that's what we've been talking about - The kids who signed earlier this week and will be on the roster for the 2026 season. Nobody has seen the list of signees yet, while the softball signess names were posted on signing day.

 

lets see
I cant post the photos for some reason, but Brady Snow, Lorenzo Laurel, Luke Labbe, Colin White, Brady Harris, Tyler Ellis,Ethan Wheeler, Cameron Hanes, Keaton Neal have all signed..

 

The link is to PG's list of Gator COMMITMENTS, but doesn't report if they actually signed. The Gator website has reported signings for other sports, bsb should be soon.

FWIW That Perfect Game link goes to the 2026 class- guys who are in the HS class of 2026. There is a dropdown box above the list of players that allows one to change the year to look at commitments for past and future years. I've saved that link to get me to the commitment lists from now on.

Also, some Gators made the D1Bsb Top 150 HS Prospects.

#8 Brady Harris, OF
#26 Denton Lord, RHP
#35 Kevin Roberts, OF
#134 Keaton Neal, SS​

The SEC dominated that list, LSU with 19 in the top 150, Vandy and Tn each had 14.

 

never going to make it on either campus, but he is big time