The Gators’ fall practice season officially begins on Oct. 9 and includes the annual exhibition game against Georgia in Jacksonville scheduled for Friday, Oct. 28.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida baseball program’s 2022 fall practice season will begin on Oct. 9 and once again features an exhibition game against Georgia in Jacksonville, set for Friday, Oct. 28.
The exhibition game, which was officially announced by the City of Jacksonville on Thursday, will kick off Florida-Georgia weekend with the annual rivalry on the gridiron scheduled to follow on Saturday, Oct. 29. Tickets for this year’s baseball showdown are priced at $15 and officially went on sale as of Thursday, Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. ET on Ticketmaster.com.<https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/22005D1EB16DB626>
Played at 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 28, the Gators will take on the Bulldogs on the diamond for the second year in a row and for the third time in the last four years. Florida and Georgia split the first two installments in the fall exhibition series, with the Gators coming out on top in 2019 while the Bulldogs prevailed in a 2021 rematch.
The annual fall matchup will continue through at least 2023. The home team rotates each year, with Georgia serving as such in 2022.
Facing off against Georgia is just one component in Florida’s upcoming schedule, as the Gators begin fall practice on Sunday, Oct. 9 and host Stetson at Condron Family Ballpark on Saturday, Nov. 5. Fall practice will run approximately six weeks, concluding with the Orange vs. Blue Series on Nov. 10, 11 and 13.
Staying consistent with past years, the gates of Condron Family Ballpark will be open to the public for the duration of fall practice.
More information regarding the Florida vs. Stetson game will be announced at a later date.
Important Fall Dates
Sunday, Oct. 9 First day of fall practice
Friday, Oct. 28 Florida vs. Georgia (in Jacksonville)
Saturday, Nov. 5 Florida vs. Stetson (Condron Family Ballpark)
Nov. 10, 11 & 13 Orange vs. Blue Series
Looking ahead to 2023, Florida returns a surplus of talent beginning with First Team All-American outfielder Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=15097>, who tied the program record with 26 home runs last season while batting .355/.447/.719. Also back in Orange & Blue is returning Friday night starter Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=15106>, who earned Southeast-ABCA All-Region honors after going 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA and .218 batting average against in his last six starts of the season.
Sproat projects to pair with All-American Southern Miss transfer hurler Hurston Waldrep in leading the UF pitching staff. Freshman All-SEC performer Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=15118> will provide depth as well, having contributed a 3.76 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 69 1/3 frames one year ago.
Sproat is just one member of a notable list of draft-eligible Gators returning to campus for the 2023 season. That group also features First Team All-SEC catcher BT Riopelle<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=15114>, as well as starting infielders Colby Halter<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=15096> and Josh Rivera<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=15104>.
Florida’s 2022-23 class of incoming players can be found below.
2022-23 UF Baseball Newcomers
Name Position B/T Hometown/High School (Previous School)
Dale Thomas<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=15511> INF R/R De Leon Springs, Fla. / Coastal Carolina / Bishop Moore HS
Cade Fisher LHP L/L Dalton, Ga. / Northwest Whitfeld County
Cade Kurland INF R/R Tampa, Fla. / Berkeley Prep
Tyler Shelnut INF R/R Lake City, Fla. / Santa Fe CC / Fort White HS
Salvador Alvarez C R/R Miami, Fla. / Montverde Academy
Hurston Waldrep RHP R/R Thomasville, Ga. / Southern Miss / Thomasville HS
Yoel Tejeda RHP/1B S/R Davie, Fla. / North Broward Prep
Jake Clemente RHP R/R Coral Springs, Fla. / Majory Stoneman Douglas
Richie Schiekofer OF L/R Millburn, N.J. / Rutgers / Millburn HS
Clete Hartzog RHP L/R Panama City, Fla. / Wallace CC-Dothan / Mosley HS
Luke Heyman C R/R Longwood, Fla. / Lake Brantley
Erik Blair OF L/L Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. / American Heritage
Chris Arroyo LHP/OF L/L Coral Springs, Fla. / Majory Stoneman Douglas
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