The 2024 UF Athletic Hall of Fame inductee is Florida’s all-time hits, doubles, RBI and total bases leader.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – UF Athletic Hall of Famer Preston Tucker will throw out the ceremonial first pitch when No. 10 Florida opens the 2025 baseball season against Air Force on Friday, Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
In addition to Tucker’s honorary first pitch, Opening Night features a giveaway of 500 Rowdy Reptile shirts for UF students. Team posters will also be on hand for all fans in attendance.
On Saturday, fans will be treated to an exhibition from Wings of Blue, a U.S. Air Force Parachute Team, during pregame at approximately 3:40 p.m. Schedule coasters will also be available for the first 1,000 fans. For Sunday’s series finale, team magnets will be on hand for all fans.
Tucker, a member of the 2024 Hall of Fame class, is the Gators’ all-time hits (341), doubles (70), RBI (258) and total bases (596) leader. He made his Major League debut in 2015 with the Houston Astros, appearing in three MLB seasons during a 10-year pro career.
Starring for Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/kevin-o-sullivan/1999>’s Gators from 2009-12, Tucker enjoyed an illustrious career in Orange & Blue. In addition to his aforementioned program records, Tucker ranks second all-time in games played (265), second in starts (259), third in homers (57) and sixth in runs scored (210).
Florida advanced to the College World Series in each of Tucker’s final three seasons as a Gator, marking the program’s first appearances in Omaha under O’Sullivan. Tucker also helped power the Gators to a pair of SEC Championships in 2010 and 2011.
Tucker was named an All-American and All-SEC selection in 2011 and 2012. Most notably, the Tampa, Fla. native holds status as the only player in team history to earn Regional All-Tournament Team honors in all four years of his career. In both 2009 and 2011, Tucker was named the Regional Most Outstanding Player.
Finishing his UF career with a .329/.409/.576 slash line across 265 games, Tucker was drafted by the Houston Astros with the 219th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2012 MLB Draft. Playing in Triple-A as recently as 2023, Tucker appeared in parts of three MLB seasons with the Astros, Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds. He totaled 23 career home runs and 38 doubles in 243 big-league games.
Florida opens the 2025 regular season<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/schedule> at home on Friday, Feb. 14 vs. Air Force at 6:30 p.m., hosting the Falcons for a three-game series (Feb. 14-16) for the first time in program history. Season tickets<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/buy/virtual-venue/QlMyNQ==?utm_source=WEB&utm_medium=STORY&utm_campaign=BASE-SEASON&camefrom=CFC_GATORS_WEB_STORY_BASE-SEASON> and SEC Five-Pack Mini-Plans<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/buy/flexplan/10312?utm_source=WEB&utm_medium=STORY&utm_campaign=BASE-MINI&camefrom=CFC_GATORS_WEB_STORY_BASE-MINI> are currently on sale now in addition to single-game tickets<https://www.ticketmaster.com/florida-gators-baseball-tickets/artist/1294070>.
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