Ahead of Florida baseball’s first fall ball scrimmage, head coach Kevin O’Sullivan joined Steve Russell and Sportscene on ESPN Radio WRUF to discuss the changes made over the offseason and preview this weekend’s matchup against Jacksonville University.
Florida and Georgia have played on this weekend — during the annual football rivalry game in Jacksonville — over the past few years, but the schedule changed this year for reasons unknown until now. O’Sullivan confirmed that the decision was made by the Bulldogs’ program, not the Gators.
“The bottom line is that I think Georgia just decided not to play in the game,” O’Sullivan said. “But we’re excited about playing JU.”
Fall ball can be a complicated time. Getting everyone enrolled and on the field is the first step, then it becomes about developing a blueprint for the spring. While nothing is set in stone, the coaching staff gets to evaluate its roster and get a good sense of a potential starting lineup and weekend rotation.
New faces in Gainesville
Sully said that one of the main focuses in the transfer portal this offseason was to change the way the offense looks — fewer strikeouts and more balls in play. The Gators welcome nine transfers and a 12-man freshman class to the program.
Notable additions include USF infielder Bobby Boser, Miami outfielder/infielder Blake Cyr, Jacksonville infielder Justin Nadeau and Stetson outfielder Kyle Jones. On the mound, Clemson right-hander Billy Barlow and Sante Fe right-hander Matthew Jenkins figure to be key pieces on Florida’s pitching staff this year.
“I think we’ve got a lot of versatility,” he said. “I really like Bobby Boser, the infielder/outfielder we got from South Florida. Justin Nadeau from JU has really stepped in an been able to play a lot of positions. Billy Barlow, the right-hander from Clemson has come in and done a really nice job. All in all, it’s been a successful fall so far.”
UF veterans provide a stable core
However, it’s the players Florida kept from leaving that might have the biggest impact on the team this year.
“Sometimes your best recruits are the ones you get back to school,” he said. “Getting back Colby Shelton, Pierce Coppola and Ty Evans — sometimes, when you get three or four guys back to school that you may not have expected to get back, they end up being your best recruits.”
The shifting landscape of college sports has helped Florida retain key players who may have opted to sign…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Baseball | Gators Wire…