With six positional starters returning to the fold in 2022, the Gators enter the season as the nation’s No. 9-ranked team.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida baseball was listed at No. 9 in D1Baseball’s Preseason Top 25 rankings on Tuesday morning.
D1Baseball follows Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game in releasing preseason rankings, with Florida being listed at No. 6 and No. 23 in those two polls, respectively. Last season, the Orange & Blue sat at No. 1 in all three publications’ preseason rankings before finishing the campaign at 38-22 (17-13 SEC).
Outlets with preseason rankings yet to be released are Baseball America, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Looking beyond the Gators, the Southeastern Conference boasts a nation-leading eight teams in the top 25, including six in the top 10: No. 2 Arkansas, No. 3 Vanderbilt, No. 4 Mississippi State, No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 8 LSU, No. 16 Georgia and No. 19 Tennessee. Hailing from the Big 12 Conference, Texas claimed the No. 1 spot overall.
At present, eight preseason top-25 teams can be found on Florida’s 2022 schedule: No. 2 Arkansas (April 7-9), No. 3 Vanderbilt (April 15-17), No. 4 Mississippi State (May 6-8), No. 8 LSU (March 25-27), No. 11 Florida State (March 15, March 29, April 12), No. 16 Georgia (March 31-April 2), No. 19 Tennessee (April 22-24) and No. 25 Miami (March 4-6).
The 2022 Florida Gators roster features a hybrid of experience mixed with young talent, as the team returns 19 letterwinners while welcoming in 17 newcomers. Despite having each of its top-three ranked signees ink Major League Baseball contracts this past summer, the Gators still managed to recruit an impressive collection of sixteen freshmen and one transfer to finish as the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class according to Perfect Game (No. 2 at D1Baseball, Baseball America).
As for the returners, reigning Third Team All-American outfielder Jud Fabian<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15127&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=86rKMnO5V0atkvfV7dJ8coN9jahoKG5jicinRWR1YBU&e= > is back in Gainesville along with 2021 Second Team Southeast All-Region left-hander Hunter Barco<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15091&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=UKHKa5caiAD5QsMgmyYW1jO2mxknckcrcsxdWn-CR_c&e= >. Both players already garnered Preseason All-America status from Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game, with Fabian leading a group of six returning positional starters from last year’s squad: first baseman/designated hitter Kris Armstrong<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15090&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=2LWZbLGDG45Tejx3_Wzt4wph6Gq4dMMQsIpYafe-nDk&e= >, first baseman/outfielder Kendrick Calilao<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15092&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=cK7z5yzvCfNh69zjikYlv5v25LilkA6TyMB_v34TiIo&e= >, second baseman Colby Halter<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15096&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=Xsb2wSWmGyZ3YCHctELQme77lYdlKagMZ5ltkXkJfPM&e= >, shortstop Josh Rivera<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15104&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=jQuER0lAUbT1mow4WpW7oK6SzxPl1YMMBf3rNNnpg_k&e= > and outfielder Sterlin Thompson<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15108&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=ZPalQTk7iMtsgEsBl_5G3NlwGmUHwdLW3aDUNI-jucQ&e= >.
Meanwhile, Barco figures to anchor a Gators rotation accompanied by fellow USA Collegiate National Team member Brandon Sproat<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15106&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=BgiwWKbzIXO0uXXqa0S0OAQWHx30u_RtsnlfOscoqRg&e= >. According to MLB Pipeline, Barco (No. 54) and Sproat (No. 98) each rank as top-100 prospects for the 2022 MLB Draft – as are Fabian (No. 45) and Thompson (No. 90) on the positional side.
Overall, the Gators placed 14 players on Perfect Game’s top-75 players by class lists.
Freshmen
Pierce Coppola<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15116&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=6BFl2okCzAcvRhzyr4NXjWqOg56S3ENgFpqDDv4Sooo&e= >, LHP – No. 10
Philip Abner<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15126&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=GdeR7uMCqAg7g8Zue0LkLW-snIuwq-8bKeonMotYH9I&e= >, LHP – No. 47
Deric Fabian<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15119&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=LHcPkiSWxwaN9ICFbOSmJDDFKpMq-4_TkA38-rzjvEw&e= >, INF – No. 54
Ty Evans<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15111&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=dvDm9-9M4cGfUrN0hMOt5O10wKPcK1eWHeJDQqiTaNQ&e= >, OF – No. 58
Michael Robertson<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15112&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=sw9Y_EvQggslaD5-iMKYIaEnZaocmoslcC8O8zpZJqc&e= >, No. 64
Sophomores
Sterlin Thompson<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15108&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=ZPalQTk7iMtsgEsBl_5G3NlwGmUHwdLW3aDUNI-jucQ&e= >, OF – No. 32
Colby Halter<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15096&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=Xsb2wSWmGyZ3YCHctELQme77lYdlKagMZ5ltkXkJfPM&e= >, INF – No. 36
Mac Guscette<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15095&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=aQ_M7M59CeTHCyfERivLSVFXSznJEwjrYAc7vBRVhVo&e= >, C – No. 76
Juniors
Hunter Barco<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15091&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=UKHKa5caiAD5QsMgmyYW1jO2mxknckcrcsxdWn-CR_c&e= >, LHP – No. 24
Brandon Sproat<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15106&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=BgiwWKbzIXO0uXXqa0S0OAQWHx30u_RtsnlfOscoqRg&e= >, RHP – No. 41
Josh Rivera<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15104&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=jQuER0lAUbT1mow4WpW7oK6SzxPl1YMMBf3rNNnpg_k&e= >, INF – No. 80
Tyler Nesbitt<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15101&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=Cdyqp0V_nW7eb7bNoQ56Ez_EWhuDE2nDWJGtPA13kOY&e= >, RHP – No. 90
Seniors
Jud Fabian<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15127&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=86rKMnO5V0atkvfV7dJ8coN9jahoKG5jicinRWR1YBU&e= >, OF – No. 1
Kris Armstrong<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15090&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=2LWZbLGDG45Tejx3_Wzt4wph6Gq4dMMQsIpYafe-nDk&e= >, 1B/DH – No. 9
No. 9 Florida is set to open the 2022 season at home the weekend of Feb. 18-20 in the form of a three-game series against Liberty of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Ticket Information
Season and single-game tickets are currently on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_2015_12_10_-5Ftickets-5Fbaseball-5F.aspx&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=lOcRSMmKj-rk7uTHs2CCjI1eIetUbRTEgzwopYSuoM8&e= > or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directly here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__am.ticketmaster.com_gators_virtual-2Dvenue_QlMyMg-3D-3D&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=u7gkKIHo95NSvW_xexr_-iI10iDe7E_KFxFrHgj3WSY&e= >, while single-game tickets can be purchased here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ticketmaster.com_florida-2Dgators-2Dbaseball-2Dtickets_artist_1294070&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=c1i7mecXYNRyXxzy-YAC7Dv98w63gu4cnU7WKOIT1Cz-SGNgyyRmCelxlw_rFwaB&s=3ccDUS-wpvSA79WEVxdr1v40EsVZrFsABPj11hyL1sg&e= >.
