Florida has been placed inside the top 10 by all four major polls to release rankings so far this preseason.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators baseball team received its fourth preseason top-10 ranking for the 2023 campaign on Monday morning, as Baseball America placed the Orange & Blue at No. 3 in its top 25.
The No. 3 ranking from Baseball America is Florida’s second-highest of the preseason, coming in behind Collegiate Baseball (No. 2) and just ahead of D1Baseball (No. 7) and Perfect Game (No. 8). Outlets with preseason rankings yet to be released are the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the USA Today Coaches Poll.
From Baseball America:
Florida has serious star power this season thanks to the returns of All-American outfielder Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> and righthander Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508>, an unsigned third-rounder, as well as the addition of righthander Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517>, a veteran of Team USA.
Collectively, eight SEC programs earned a spot in the Baseball America preseason top 25 including seven of the poll’s top-11 teams: No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Tennessee, No. 3 Florida, No. 6 Vanderbilt, No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 11 Arkansas and No. 22 Auburn. Of those teams, Florida hosts Vanderbilt (May 12-14) and Auburn (March 31-April 2) this season while making trips to Tennessee (April 6-8), Texas A&M (May 5-7) and Ole Miss (March 24-26). In addition to those squads, the Gators also welcome No. 8 Miami to Gainesville from March 3-5, putting a grand total of six BA preseason top-25 opponents on Florida’s 2023 schedule.
Florida returns 23 players including six positional starters from the 2022 campaign after going 42-24 (15-15 SEC) and hosting the program’s 18th NCAA Regional. A talented group of 14 newcomers join that constituency, featuring nine freshmen and five transfers. According to D1Baseball, the Gators’ freshman class was ranked No. 5<https://floridagators.com/news/2023/1/19/floridas-freshman-class-ranked-fifth-by-d1baseball.aspx> in the country while Florida’s transfer class came in at No. 7.<https://d1baseball.com/recruiting/2023-top-transfer-classes-6-10/>
Florida’s 2023 season<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/schedule> officially opens at home on Friday, Feb. 17 with the first of three games in a weekend series against Charleston Southern. Fans will have plenty of opportunities to cheer on the Gators at Condron Family Ballpark, as 20 of Florida’s first-22 games take place at home.
Ticket Information
Tickets are currently on sale for the 2023 season, including both season tickets and single-game options. Tickets can be purchased online<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_baseball_.aspx> or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directly here<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/buy?filterType=69>,<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/virtual-venue/QlMyMw==> while single-game sales can be found here.<https://www.ticketmaster.com/florida-gators-baseball-tickets/artist/1294070>
Continue to check FloridaGators.com for additional updates related to the 2023 baseball season.
