The NCBWA is the first publication to award both players with first team preseason accolades.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – University of Florida right-handed pitcher Brandon Neely and first baseman/left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone received another set of Preseason All-American honors on Tuesday, as both garnered first team status from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
The NCBWA is the first publication to name both Caglianone and Neely First Team Preseason All-Americans. Caglianone holds status as a Unanimous First Team selection in the industry while Neely hauled in second team recognition from Perfect Game, D1Baseball and Baseball America.
Entering his second full season as a two-way player, Caglianone bopped an NCAA-leading and program-record 33 homers while slashing .323/.389/.738 in 2023. 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.
Shifting to Neely, the 2023 USA Collegiate National Team member collects his second preseason honor after 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.
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