2020 Florida Gators baseball team

American college baseball season

2020 Florida Gators baseball
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
CBNo. 1
Record16–1 (0–0 SEC)
Head coach
  • Kevin O'Sullivan (13th season)
Assistant coaches
  • Craig Bell (13th year)
  • Chuck Jeroloman (1st year)
Home stadiumAlfred A. McKethan Stadium
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 Southeastern Conference baseball standings
  • v
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 Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Eastern
No. 1 Florida  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 16 – 1   .941
Tennessee  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 15 – 2   .882
No. 3 Georgia  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 14 – 4   .778
South Carolina  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 12 – 4   .750
No. 6 Vanderbilt  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 13 – 5   .722
Missouri •  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 11 – 5   .688
Kentucky  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 11 – 6   .647
Western
No. 8 Ole Miss  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 16 – 1   .941
Alabama  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 16 – 1   .941
Texas A&M  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 15 – 3   .833
No. 17 Mississippi State  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 12 – 4   .750
No. 18 Auburn  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 13 – 5   .722
No. 19 LSU  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 12 – 5   .706
No. 14 Arkansas  ‍‍‍ 0 – 0   – 11 – 5   .688
‡ – Tournament champion
  • – ineligible for postseason due to NCAA sanctions
    As of May 10, 2024[1]
    Rankings from D1Baseball


The 2020 Florida Gators baseball team represented the University of Florida in the sport of baseball during the 2020 college baseball season. Florida competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Home games were played at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, in the final season at the ballpark. The team was coached by Kevin O'Sullivan in his thirteenth season as Florida's head coach. The Gators entered the season looking to return to the College World Series after an early regional exit in last year's Lubbock Regional.

The season was cut short in stages by March 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The Gators finished with a 16–1 record, tied for the best in the country, and ranked No. 1 in all major polls. A tightly contested road sweep of the Miami Hurricanes helped propel Florida to the top spot in the rankings. Not knowing at the time it would be their final game, the Gators saw their 11-game winning streak over Florida State come to an end in the last game played at McKethan Stadium.

Previous season

The Gators finished the 2019 season with a 34–26 record, compiling a 13–17 mark in the SEC.

2019 MLB draft

The Gators had five players drafted in the 2019 MLB draft.[3]

Player Position Round Overall MLB Team
Brady McConnell Shortstop 2 44 Kansas City Royals
Tyler Dyson Pitcher 5 153 Washington Nationals
Wil Dalton Outield 8 257 Boston Red Sox
Nelson Maldonado Outfield 21 642 Chicago Cubs
Hunter Barco Pitcher 24 718 New York Mets
Feleipe Franks Pitcher 31 947 Boston Red Sox
Tyler Nesbitt Pitcher 32 969 Colorado Rockies

Players in bold are signees drafted from high school that will attend Florida.

Preseason

SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on February 6, 2020, with the Gators predicted to finish in second place in the Eastern Division.[4]

Media poll (East)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Vanderbilt 87 (9)
2 Florida 77 (3)
3 Georgia 76 (2)
4 Tennessee 50
5 South Carolina 48
6 Missouri 32
7 Kentucky 22

Personnel

By player

2020 Florida Gators baseball team
Players Coaches
# Pos. Name Bats/throws Height Weight Year Home town
22 INF Cory Acton L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Fort Lauderdale, FL
39 RHP Justin Alintoff R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jr Jupiter, FL
34 INF Kris Armstrong S/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So Jupiter, FL
12 LHP Hunter Barco L/L 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Jacksonville, FL
21 INF Nick Blasucci R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Fort Myers, FL
29 OF Austin Brinling L/L 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Bradenton, FL
15 INF Jordan Butler L/L 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Tampa, FL
16 LHP Ryan Cabarcas L/L 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Fr Pembroke Pines, FL
6 INF Kendrick Calilao R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Kissimmee, FL
37 RHP Nolan Crisp R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Locust Grove, GA
18 OF Brock Edge L/L 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Lake City, FL
4 OF Jud Fabian R/L 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Ocala, FL
46 RHP Nick Ficarrotta R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Palm Harbor, FL
2 C Cal Greenfield R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Chicago, IL
11 INF Nathan Hickey L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Jacksonville, FL
44 OF Austin Langworthy L/L 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Williston, FL
23 RHP Jack Leftwich R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jr Orlando, FL
17 RHP David Luethje R/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Vero Beach, FL
47 RHP Tommy Mace R/R 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Tampa, FL
52 INF Kirby McMullen R/R 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Ocala, FL
3 RHP Garrett Milchin Injured L/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Windermere, FL
30 RHP Hunter Mink R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Palm Harbor, FL
10 RHP Tyler Nesbitt R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr LaBelle, FL
27 INF Isaac Nunez R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Orlando, FL
20 RHP Nick Pogue R/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 235 lb (107 kg) So Melbourne, FL
28 C Matt Powell R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Fort Myers, FL
24 INF Josh Rivera R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Avon Park, FL
13 INF Andrew Roberts R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Altamonte Springs, FL
14 RHP Christian Scott R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Parkland, FL
9 INF Brady Smith R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Niceville, FL
55 RHP Ben Specht R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Fort Myers, FL
5 RHP Brandon Sproat R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Pace, FL
32 OF Tucker Talbott R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Atlantic Beach, FL
33 LHP Trey Van Der Weide L/L 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Sr Longwood, FL
1 OF Jacob Young R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) So Ponte Vedra, FL
Head coach

7 Kevin O'Sullivan

Assistant coach(es)

36 Craig Bell
35 Chuck Jeroloman

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: September 25, 2020

By position

2020 Florida Gators roster[5]
 

Pitchers

  • 3 - Garrett Milchin - Redshirt Junior
  • 5 - Brandon Sproat - Freshman
  • 10 - Tyler Nesbitt - Freshman
  • 14 - Christian Scott - Sophomore
  • 16 - Ryan Cabarcas - Freshman
  • 17 - David Luethje - Sophomore
  • 20 - Nick Pogue - Sophomore
  • 23 - Jack Leftwich - Junior
  • 30 - Hunter Mink - Freshman
  • 33 - Trey Van Der Weide - Graduate Student
  • 37 - Nolan Crisp - Sophomore
  • 39 - Justin Alintoff - Junior
  • 46 - Nick Ficarrotta - Freshman
  • 47 - Tommy Mace - Junior
  • 55 - Ben Specht - Sophomore
  

Catchers

  • 2 - Cal Greenfield - Junior
  • 28 - Matt Powell - Freshman

Infielders

  • 13 - Andrew Roberts - Freshman
  • 21 - Nick Blasucci - Redshirt Senior
  • 22 - Cory Acton - Sophomore
  • 24 - Josh Rivera - Freshman
  • 27 - Isaac Nunez - Freshman
  • 34 - Kris Armstrong - Sophomore
  • 52 - Kirby McMullen - Senior
  

Outfielders

  • 1 - Jacob Young - Sophomore
  • 4 - Jud Fabian - Sophomore
  • 18 - Brock Edge - Junior
  • 29 - Austin Brinling - Freshman
  • 32 - Tucker Talbott - Freshman

Utility

  • 6 - Kendrick Calilao (1B/OF) - Sophomore
  • 9 - Brady Smith (INF/C) - Junior
  • 11 - Nathan Hickey (C/INF) - Freshman
  • 12 - Hunter Barco (P/1B) - Freshman
  • 15 - Jordan Butler (P/1B) - Junior
  • 44 - Austin Langworthy (OF/P) - Senior
  

Coaching staff

2020 Florida Gators coaching staff[5]
Name Position Seasons at
Florida		 Alma Mater
Kevin O'Sullivan Head coach 13 Virginia (1991)
Craig Bell Assistant coach 12 North Florida (1989)
Chuck Jeroloman Assistant coach 1 Auburn (2005)
Lars Davis Volunteer Assistant Coach 6 Illinois (2007)
Matt den Dekker Student Assistant Coach 1 Florida (2010)
Nolan Fontana Student Assistant Coach 1 Florida (2013)

Schedule and results

Schedule

Legend
  Florida win
  Florida loss
  Postponement
Bold Florida team member
2020 Florida Gators baseball game log
Regular season
February
Date Opponent Rank Stadium
Site 		Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall
Record 		SEC
Record
February 14 Marshall No. 4 McKethan Stadium
Gainesville, FL		 W 9–2 T. Mace (1–0) W. Martin (0–1) None 4,441 1–0 –
February 15 Marshall No. 4 McKethan Stadium W 10–0 J. Leftwich (1–0) B. Choban (0–1) None 4,453 2–0 –
February 16 Marshall No. 4 McKethan Stadium W 15–8 C. Scott (1–0) B. Callaly (0–1) None 3,903 3–0 –
February 18 at Jacksonville No. 2 John Sessions Stadium
Jacksonville, FL		 W 13–3 N. Ficarrotta (1–0) M. Cassala (0–2) None 1,063 4–0 –
February 19 Jacksonville No. 2 McKethan Stadium W 4–310 N. Pogue (1–0) C. Mauloni (0–1) None 3,300 5–0 –
February 21 at No. 1 Miami (FL)
Rivalry		 No. 2 Alex Rodriguez Park
Coral Gables, FL		 W 2–111 B. Specht (1–0) D. Federman (0–1) N. Pogue (1) 4,046 6–0 –
February 22 at No. 1 Miami (FL)
Rivalry		 No. 2 Alex Rodriguez Park W 7–410 B. Specht (2–0) A. McFarlane (1–1) None 4,172 7–0 –
February 23 at No. 1 Miami (FL)
Rivalry		 No. 2 Alex Rodriguez Park W 5–3 H. Barco (1–0) S. Cecconi (1–1) R. Cabarcas (1) 3,554 8–0 –
February 25 Florida A&M No. 1 McKethan Stadium Postponed (rain) Makeup: Unscheduled before season was terminated[6]
February 26 at Stetson No. 1 Conrad Park
DeLand, FL		 Postponed (rain) Makeup: March 18[7]
February 28 Troy No. 1 McKethan Stadium W 3–2 T. Mace (2–0) L. Johnson (0–1) B. Specht (1) 3,377 9–0 –
February 29 Troy No. 1 McKethan Stadium W 10–7 D. Luethje (1–0) D. Wilder (0–1) B. Specht (2) 4,140 10–0 –
March
Date Opponent Rank Stadium
Site 		Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall
Record 		SEC
Record
March 1 Troy No. 1 McKethan Stadium W 7–1 H. Barco (2–0) T. Ellis (0–1) None 4,001 11–0 –
March 3 vs. Florida Atlantic No. 1 FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches
West Palm Beach, FL		 W 7–3 D. Luethje (2–0) M. DeGusipe (0–1) None 1,984 12–0 –
March 4 Florida A&M No. 1 McKethan Stadium W 5–0 T. Nesbitt (1–0) K. Coleman (1–1) None 2,684 13–0 –
March 6 South Florida No. 1 McKethan Stadium W 9–1 T. Mace (3–0) C. Sullivan (1–2) None 3,594 14–0 –
March 7 South Florida No. 1 McKethan Stadium W 15–5 J. Leftwich (2–0) J. Jasiak (1–2) None 4,538 15–0 –
March 8 South Florida No. 1 McKethan Stadium W 2–1 C. Scott (2–0) O. Kerkering (0–1) B. Specht (3) 3,978 16–0 –
March 10 No. 15 Florida State
Rivalry		 No. 1 McKethan Stadium L 0–2 A. Velez (1–0) N. Pogue (1–1) P. Messick (1) 5,276 16–1 –
March 13 No. 3 Georgia No. 1 McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
March 14 No. 3 Georgia No. 1 McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
March 15 No. 3 Georgia No. 1 McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
March 17 Jacksonville McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
March 18 at Stetson Conrad Park Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[8]
March 20 at Kentucky Kentucky Proud Park Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
March 21 at Kentucky Kentucky Proud Park Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
March 22 at Kentucky Kentucky Proud Park Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
March 24 vs. Florida State
Rivalry		 Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL		 Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
March 27 Texas A&M McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
March 28 Texas A&M McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
March 29 Texas A&M McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
March 31 Stetson McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April
Date Opponent Rank Stadium
Site 		Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall
Record 		SEC
Record
April 2 at Arkansas Baum–Walker Stadium
Fayetteville, AR		 Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 3 at Arkansas Baum–Walker Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 4 at Arkansas Baum–Walker Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 7 North Florida McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 9 Missouri McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 10 Missouri McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 11 Missouri McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 14 at Florida State
Rivalry		 Dick Howser Stadium
Tallahassee, FL		 Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 17 at Tennessee Lindsey Nelson Stadium
Knoxville, TN		 Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 18 at Tennessee Lindsey Nelson Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 19 at Tennessee Lindsey Nelson Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 21 Florida Atlantic McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 24 Ole Miss McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 25 Ole Miss McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
April 26 Ole Miss McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
May
Date Opponent Rank Stadium
Site 		Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall
Record 		SEC
Record
May 1 at Auburn Plainsman Park
Auburn, AL		 Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
May 2 at Auburn Plainsman Park Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
May 3 at Auburn Plainsman Park Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
May 5 Bethune–Cookman McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
May 8 Vanderbilt McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
May 9 Vanderbilt McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
May 10 Vanderbilt McKethan Stadium Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
May 14 at South Carolina Founders Park
Columbia, SC		 Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
May 15 at South Carolina Founders Park Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
May 16 at South Carolina Founders Park Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[2]
Schedule Source:[9]

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.

Florida defeated South Florida 15–5 in the last Saturday game played at McKethan Stadium

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre1234Final
Coaches'[10]1010*1 (26)1 (28)1 (28)
Baseball America[11]421111*
Collegiate Baseball^[12]14142211
NCBWA†[13]851111
D1Baseball[14]421111*

^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season.
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

2020 MLB draft

The Gators did not have anyone selected in the 2020 MLB draft.

References

  1. ^ "2020 Standings". Southeastern Conference. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al "COVID-19 Updates". floridagators.com. University Athletic Assoc., Inc., Fox Sports Sun, IMG College. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "MLB Amateur Draft Picks who came from".
  4. ^ "Vanderbilt picked to win 2020 SEC Baseball Championship".
  5. ^ a b "Official Baseball Roster". Florida Gators. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  6. ^ Dirlam, Zach (February 25, 2020). "Florida-Florida A&M Game Postponed". floridagators.com. University Athletic Assoc., Inc., Fox Sports Sun, IMG College. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  7. ^ Dirlam, Zach (February 26, 2020). "Florida-Stetson Midweek Game Rescheduled". floridagators.com. University Athletic Assoc., Inc., Fox Sports Sun, IMG College. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  8. ^ "Stetson, ASUN Cancel Athletics Events". gohatters.com. Stetson University. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  9. ^ floridagators.com
  10. ^ Baseball Coaches Poll
  11. ^ Baseball America College: Top 25
  12. ^ NCAA DIV I Baseball Polls-Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
  13. ^ NCBWA Division I poll
  14. ^ D1 Baseball
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Florida Gators baseball
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National Championships in bold; College World Series appearances in italics