NCAA Baseball News

Perfect Game Selects Gators Trio as Preseason All-Americans

Perfect Game Selects Gators Trio as Preseason All-Americans


GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Three Florida baseball players were honored as Preseason All-Americans by Perfect Game on Thursday in first baseman/left-hander Jac Caglianone, infielder Colby Shelton and right-hander Brandon Neely.
 
Also tabbed as PG’s Preseason Two-Way Player of the Year, Caglianone was the lone Gator to collect first team status. Shelton was listed as a second team infielder while Neely slotted in as a third team reliever.
 
Thursday’s announcement represents the first-career Preseason All-America honors for all three players.
 

 
The first team nod is a no-brainer for Caglianone, who bopped an NCAA-leading and program-record 33 homers last season while slashing .323/.389/.738. The Tampa, Fla. product also set the team record with 90 RBI and was the lone Gator to play in and start all 71 games as Florida made a deep run to the College World Series Finals. The southpaw also delivered a 7-4 record, 4.34 ERA, .190 batting average against and 87 strikeouts across 18 starts spanning 74 2/3 frames.
 

Transferring into Florida from Alabama this past offseason, Shelton figures to make an immediate impact in Orange & Blue after a Freshman All-American 2023 campaign that saw him bat .300/.419/.729 with 25 long balls. Shelton led the Crimson tide in homers, slugging and OPS (1.148) while also adding 10 doubles, 51 RBI and 49 runs scored. He is projected to serve as UF’s primary shortstop this spring.
 
As for Neely, the 2023 USA Collegiate National Team member adds another feather to his cap on the heels of a 2023 Second Team All-American and First Team All-SEC season. Transitioning to the bullpen for the betterment of the roster, the Seville, Fla. native made a team-high 34 appearances while delivering a 3.58 ERA. Neely led the SEC with 13 saves in 14 opportunities – a total that ranked sixth nationally. He also fanned 72 batters in 55 1/3 frames and held hitters to a .223 batting average.
 
The Gators open up the 2024 season with a three-game series against St. John’s spanning from Friday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 18 at Condron Family Ballpark.
 
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