The Gators take on the Buccaneers on Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (4 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 7 Florida Gators open the 109th season of the program this upcoming weekend as Charleston Southern of the Big South Conference comes to town for a three-game series. Opening Night is set for Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. ET, while games two and three are on the books for 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. All three games of the season-opening series will stream live on SEC Network+.
Since the start of Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan 's tenure at Florida in 2008, the Gators are 14-1 (.933) in season openers while featuring a 38-7 record (.881) in the first series of the year. The Orange & Blue has claimed victories in nine-straight games to open the campaign dating back through 2014. Across the history of the program, Florida is 66-41-1 all-time in openers, featuring a 46-21-1 mark at home.
The 2023 opener represents the first meeting between Florida and Charleston Southern since April 12-14, 2010 in Gainesville. The Gators took two out of three in that series by winning each of the first two matchups, 6-0 and 16-10, before the Buccaneers claimed game three by a 6-3 tally. Overall, Florida is 11-2 all-time against CSU, with all 13 meetings having taken place at home. The Gators have won four of the last five against the Bucs.
Coming into the season, Florida is ranked in the top 25 in every major preseason poll, peaking at No. 2 on Collegiate Baseball's list and opening the year at No. 7 in the D1Baseball Top 25.
OPENING WEEKEND PROMOS
On Opening Night, rally towels will be handed out to the first 5,000 fans through the gates. 2023 team posters will also be distributed all weekend, with Florida baseball magnets available on the concourse throughout Sunday's 1 p.m. tilt. Fans can even enter to win a game-worn jersey during the series finale.
2023 FLASHBACK
Florida returns 23 players including six positional starters from the 2022 campaign after going 42-24 (15-15 SEC) and hosting the program's 18th NCAA Regional. After opening the first 40 games of the season with a 23-17 record (.575) and 6-12 mark in SEC play, Florida went 19-7 (.731) down the stretch, winning the final four SEC series of the season (9-3) while posting a 13-5 record against SEC teams (including SEC Tournament). That featured a trip to the SEC Tournament Championship, as the Gators were one of two teams to make it to the SEC Tourney semifinals each of the last two years.
The Gators also hit 121 home runs as a team – the second-highest total in program history. For the first time ever, two Gators hit 20-plus home runs in the same season: outfielders Wyatt Langford (26) and Jud Fabian (24).
THE 109TH SEASON OF GATORS BASEBALL
The 2023 campaign signifies the 109th season of the University of Florida baseball program. Dating back to the first year of existence in 1912, the Gators have played to a 2,681-1,650-24 record (.618) including a 1,059-707-2 mark (.600) in SEC play.
O'SULLIVAN'S 16TH CAMPAIGN
With a 627-302 career record in hand, Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan embarks on his 16th season at the helm of the program in 2023. During his tenure, Florida has more College World Series berths (seven) and top-eight national seeds (nine) than any team in the country while being tied for the most NCAA Tournament bids (14) and Super Regionals hosted (eight). Florida's .613 winning percentage (257-162) in regular-season conference play since O'Sullivan's 2008 arrival is tops in the SEC.
THE HYPE TRAIN
The Gators enter the season ranked No. 7 in the D1Baseball Top 25. Across the six major polls, Florida has been placed as highly as No. 2 (Collegiate Baseball) and no lower than No. 8 (Perfect Game).
BACKGROUND ON THE BUCS
Charleston Southern was picked to finish seventh out of 10 teams in the Big South Preseason Poll, although they did garner one vote to win the conference. Coming off a 24-30 (13-11 Big South) record one year ago, the Buccaneers return 16 players from the 2022 roster, including right-hander Evan Truitt (4-4, 54 2/3 IP, 4.28 ERA, 60 K) and infielder Tyrell Brewer (.305/.408/.442).
NON-CON DOM
Florida went 20-5 (.750) against non-conference regular season opponents last season. That mark featured a 19-3 record following the opening weekend of the year, including wins over No. 5 Florida State and No. 22 Miami.
HOME COOKING
The Gators played to a 22-11 record (.667) at home during the regular season last year. Taking into account the 2022 NCAA Gainesville Regional hosted by Florida, the Orange & Blue turned in an overall 25-13 mark at Condron Family Ballpark one year ago.
LANGFORD EYES GOLDEN SPIKES
After batting .355/.447/.719 with an SEC-leading 26 home runs last season, Langford was named a First Team All-American. He now enters 2023 as a leading candidate for the Golden Spikes Award as well as SEC Player of the Year, and is positioned as the No. 3 overall prospect for the MLB Draft according to MLB Pipeline.
MORE ON LANGFORD
While Langford's 2023 stat line is impressive as is, his performance is elevated further when diving deeper into the numbers. With 29 multi-hit games, Langford collected multiple knocks in 44.0% of Florida's games. He also struck out in just 14.5% of plate appearances while posting an 11.9% walk rate. Of players to hit 25-plus homers last year, Langford is one of just two to do so with fewer than 50 strikeouts – and the only such player returning to college baseball in 2023 (the other being Georgia Tech's Kevin Parada).
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Four players return to the 2023 Gators despite having an opportunity to go pro following last season: right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat, catcher BT Riopelle and infielders Colby Halter and Josh Rivera. Collectively, those three position players combined for 186 hits, 64 homers, 32 doubles, 123 runs and 114 RBI one year ago. Meanwhile, Sproat was tremendous for the Gators down the stretch, going 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA and .218 batting average against in his last six starts of the season. He finished with a 9-4 record and 3.43 ERA across 89 2/3 frames.
THE ONE-TWO PUNCH
Armed with two Preseason All-Americans atop the weekend rotation, the Gators starting pitching is led by right-handers Sproat and Hurston Waldrep. In fact, Florida is one of just four teams in the nation with two Preseason All-American starting pitchers, alongside Tennessee, UC Santa Barbara and Wake Forest. Waldrep is lined up to pitch behind Sproat in the UF rotation, having fired 90 innings of 3.20 ERA ball with 140 strikeouts and a .213 batting average against. The righty finished third in the NCAA with 14.0 strikeouts per nine innings one season ago.
In his first season as a two-way player, southpaw Jac Caglianone will fill the Sunday role in week one. Caglianone batted .288/.339/.548 across 104 at bats in 2022, but is making his collegiate debut on the mound this weekend after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Returning Freshman All-SEC hurler Brandon Neely figures to fill valuable innings as well after churning out 69 1/3 frames of 3.76 ERA ball last season and leading qualified UF pitchers with a .205 batting average against.
RIOPELLE AIMS TO REPEAT AS SEC'S TOP BACKSTOP
During his first year at Florida after transferring in from Coastal Carolina, Riopelle was named First Team All-SEC after leading all conference backstops with 15 home runs, 55 RBI and a .551 slugging percentage. The Marietta, Ga. native also posted a .304 batting average and .447 on-base percentage to go with 125 total bases, one triple, nine doubles, 38 runs and six stolen bases while turning in a .992 fielding percentage. Riopelle was named a Third Team Preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball on Dec. 19 in addition to being Preseason First Team All-SEC.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
In total, four members of the Orange & Blue were named Preseason All-Americans by at least one publication: Riopelle (Third Team – Collegiate Baseball), Sproat (Second Team – Collegiate Baseball, Third Team – Baseball America), Waldrep (First Team – Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball; Second Team – Perfect Game) and Langford (Consensus First Team).
FRESH FACES
A talented group of 14 newcomers join the squad this year, featuring nine freshmen and five transfers. According to D1Baseball, the Gators' freshman class was ranked No. 5 in the country while Florida's transfer class came in at No. 7.
BLAKE SUPERIOR
One of the centerpieces of a much-improved Gators bullpen is undoubtedly returning Freshman All-American reliever Blake Purnell. The Boynton Beach, Fla. native pitched in eight more games than any other Gators pitcher one year ago, totaling 36 appearances spanning 50 1/3 innings. The right-hander finished with a 3-3 record, four saves, a 2.86 ERA and .258 batting average against. He also helped complete two combined shutouts for Florida and walked just 2.7 batters per nine innings.
POSITIONAL STANDOUTS
A handful of Gators were ranked by D1Baseball as top players in the nation at their respective positions heading into the season: Langford (No. 2 OF), Waldrep (No. 4 SP), Riopelle (No. 8 C), Rivera (No. 14 SS), Sproat (No. 21 SP), outfielder Michael Robertson (No. 66 OF), left-hander Pierce Coppola (No. 111 SP) and right-hander Brandon Neely (No. 126 SP).
DRAFT BUZZ
According to MLB Pipeline, Langford comes in as the No. 3 overall prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft, followed by Waldrep (No. 10) and Sproat (No. 78). Florida is the only school with two top-10 prospects for the upcoming draft. D1Baseball also ranked Langford (No. 5), Waldrep (No. 14), Sproat (No. 31) and Rivera (No. 72) as top-100 college prospects for the draft.
ON DECK
Florida returns to action during the week with a home-and-home against South Florida. The Gators travel to Tampa to take on the Bulls on Tuesday at 6 p.m. (ESPN+) before hosting USF in Gainesville on Wednesday at 6 p.m. (SEC Network+). Cincinnati then comes to town for a three-game series spanning from Friday, Feb. 24 to Sunday, Feb. 26.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON GAME DAY
Those visiting Condron Family Ballpark on game day should be aware of updated traffic patterns surrounding the ballpark. Fans are advised to utilize Ballpark Way, which will serve as a connecting route to the ballpark from Archer Road.
PARKING/SHUTTLES
General Parking is available in the west Condron Family Ballpark baseball lot and the Fifield parking lot located directly across Hull Road. Disabled parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Condron Family Ballpark west lot with a valid Disabled Placard
There will be a free shuttle service provided to and from the Fifield parking lot each day of the weekend series.
For a smoother and safer entry on game day, we encourage fans to add their tickets to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay account in advance of coming to the ballpark.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 7 Florida Gators open the 109th season of the program this upcoming weekend as Charleston Southern of the Big South Conference comes to town for a three-game series. Opening Night is set for Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. ET, while games two and three are on the books for 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. All three games of the season-opening series will stream live on SEC Network+.
Since the start of Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan 's tenure at Florida in 2008, the Gators are 14-1 (.933) in season openers while featuring a 38-7 record (.881) in the first series of the year. The Orange & Blue has claimed victories in nine-straight games to open the campaign dating back through 2014. Across the history of the program, Florida is 66-41-1 all-time in openers, featuring a 46-21-1 mark at home.
The 2023 opener represents the first meeting between Florida and Charleston Southern since April 12-14, 2010 in Gainesville. The Gators took two out of three in that series by winning each of the first two matchups, 6-0 and 16-10, before the Buccaneers claimed game three by a 6-3 tally. Overall, Florida is 11-2 all-time against CSU, with all 13 meetings having taken place at home. The Gators have won four of the last five against the Bucs.
Coming into the season, Florida is ranked in the top 25 in every major preseason poll, peaking at No. 2 on Collegiate Baseball's list and opening the year at No. 7 in the D1Baseball Top 25.
OPENING WEEKEND PROMOS
On Opening Night, rally towels will be handed out to the first 5,000 fans through the gates. 2023 team posters will also be distributed all weekend, with Florida baseball magnets available on the concourse throughout Sunday's 1 p.m. tilt. Fans can even enter to win a game-worn jersey during the series finale.
2023 FLASHBACK
Florida returns 23 players including six positional starters from the 2022 campaign after going 42-24 (15-15 SEC) and hosting the program's 18th NCAA Regional. After opening the first 40 games of the season with a 23-17 record (.575) and 6-12 mark in SEC play, Florida went 19-7 (.731) down the stretch, winning the final four SEC series of the season (9-3) while posting a 13-5 record against SEC teams (including SEC Tournament). That featured a trip to the SEC Tournament Championship, as the Gators were one of two teams to make it to the SEC Tourney semifinals each of the last two years.
The Gators also hit 121 home runs as a team – the second-highest total in program history. For the first time ever, two Gators hit 20-plus home runs in the same season: outfielders Wyatt Langford (26) and Jud Fabian (24).
THE 109TH SEASON OF GATORS BASEBALL
The 2023 campaign signifies the 109th season of the University of Florida baseball program. Dating back to the first year of existence in 1912, the Gators have played to a 2,681-1,650-24 record (.618) including a 1,059-707-2 mark (.600) in SEC play.
O'SULLIVAN'S 16TH CAMPAIGN
With a 627-302 career record in hand, Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan embarks on his 16th season at the helm of the program in 2023. During his tenure, Florida has more College World Series berths (seven) and top-eight national seeds (nine) than any team in the country while being tied for the most NCAA Tournament bids (14) and Super Regionals hosted (eight). Florida's .613 winning percentage (257-162) in regular-season conference play since O'Sullivan's 2008 arrival is tops in the SEC.
THE HYPE TRAIN
The Gators enter the season ranked No. 7 in the D1Baseball Top 25. Across the six major polls, Florida has been placed as highly as No. 2 (Collegiate Baseball) and no lower than No. 8 (Perfect Game).
BACKGROUND ON THE BUCS
Charleston Southern was picked to finish seventh out of 10 teams in the Big South Preseason Poll, although they did garner one vote to win the conference. Coming off a 24-30 (13-11 Big South) record one year ago, the Buccaneers return 16 players from the 2022 roster, including right-hander Evan Truitt (4-4, 54 2/3 IP, 4.28 ERA, 60 K) and infielder Tyrell Brewer (.305/.408/.442).
NON-CON DOM
Florida went 20-5 (.750) against non-conference regular season opponents last season. That mark featured a 19-3 record following the opening weekend of the year, including wins over No. 5 Florida State and No. 22 Miami.
HOME COOKING
The Gators played to a 22-11 record (.667) at home during the regular season last year. Taking into account the 2022 NCAA Gainesville Regional hosted by Florida, the Orange & Blue turned in an overall 25-13 mark at Condron Family Ballpark one year ago.
LANGFORD EYES GOLDEN SPIKES
After batting .355/.447/.719 with an SEC-leading 26 home runs last season, Langford was named a First Team All-American. He now enters 2023 as a leading candidate for the Golden Spikes Award as well as SEC Player of the Year, and is positioned as the No. 3 overall prospect for the MLB Draft according to MLB Pipeline.
MORE ON LANGFORD
While Langford's 2023 stat line is impressive as is, his performance is elevated further when diving deeper into the numbers. With 29 multi-hit games, Langford collected multiple knocks in 44.0% of Florida's games. He also struck out in just 14.5% of plate appearances while posting an 11.9% walk rate. Of players to hit 25-plus homers last year, Langford is one of just two to do so with fewer than 50 strikeouts – and the only such player returning to college baseball in 2023 (the other being Georgia Tech's Kevin Parada).
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Four players return to the 2023 Gators despite having an opportunity to go pro following last season: right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat, catcher BT Riopelle and infielders Colby Halter and Josh Rivera. Collectively, those three position players combined for 186 hits, 64 homers, 32 doubles, 123 runs and 114 RBI one year ago. Meanwhile, Sproat was tremendous for the Gators down the stretch, going 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA and .218 batting average against in his last six starts of the season. He finished with a 9-4 record and 3.43 ERA across 89 2/3 frames.
THE ONE-TWO PUNCH
Armed with two Preseason All-Americans atop the weekend rotation, the Gators starting pitching is led by right-handers Sproat and Hurston Waldrep. In fact, Florida is one of just four teams in the nation with two Preseason All-American starting pitchers, alongside Tennessee, UC Santa Barbara and Wake Forest. Waldrep is lined up to pitch behind Sproat in the UF rotation, having fired 90 innings of 3.20 ERA ball with 140 strikeouts and a .213 batting average against. The righty finished third in the NCAA with 14.0 strikeouts per nine innings one season ago.
In his first season as a two-way player, southpaw Jac Caglianone will fill the Sunday role in week one. Caglianone batted .288/.339/.548 across 104 at bats in 2022, but is making his collegiate debut on the mound this weekend after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Returning Freshman All-SEC hurler Brandon Neely figures to fill valuable innings as well after churning out 69 1/3 frames of 3.76 ERA ball last season and leading qualified UF pitchers with a .205 batting average against.
RIOPELLE AIMS TO REPEAT AS SEC'S TOP BACKSTOP
During his first year at Florida after transferring in from Coastal Carolina, Riopelle was named First Team All-SEC after leading all conference backstops with 15 home runs, 55 RBI and a .551 slugging percentage. The Marietta, Ga. native also posted a .304 batting average and .447 on-base percentage to go with 125 total bases, one triple, nine doubles, 38 runs and six stolen bases while turning in a .992 fielding percentage. Riopelle was named a Third Team Preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball on Dec. 19 in addition to being Preseason First Team All-SEC.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
In total, four members of the Orange & Blue were named Preseason All-Americans by at least one publication: Riopelle (Third Team – Collegiate Baseball), Sproat (Second Team – Collegiate Baseball, Third Team – Baseball America), Waldrep (First Team – Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball; Second Team – Perfect Game) and Langford (Consensus First Team).
FRESH FACES
A talented group of 14 newcomers join the squad this year, featuring nine freshmen and five transfers. According to D1Baseball, the Gators' freshman class was ranked No. 5 in the country while Florida's transfer class came in at No. 7.
BLAKE SUPERIOR
One of the centerpieces of a much-improved Gators bullpen is undoubtedly returning Freshman All-American reliever Blake Purnell. The Boynton Beach, Fla. native pitched in eight more games than any other Gators pitcher one year ago, totaling 36 appearances spanning 50 1/3 innings. The right-hander finished with a 3-3 record, four saves, a 2.86 ERA and .258 batting average against. He also helped complete two combined shutouts for Florida and walked just 2.7 batters per nine innings.
POSITIONAL STANDOUTS
A handful of Gators were ranked by D1Baseball as top players in the nation at their respective positions heading into the season: Langford (No. 2 OF), Waldrep (No. 4 SP), Riopelle (No. 8 C), Rivera (No. 14 SS), Sproat (No. 21 SP), outfielder Michael Robertson (No. 66 OF), left-hander Pierce Coppola (No. 111 SP) and right-hander Brandon Neely (No. 126 SP).
DRAFT BUZZ
According to MLB Pipeline, Langford comes in as the No. 3 overall prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft, followed by Waldrep (No. 10) and Sproat (No. 78). Florida is the only school with two top-10 prospects for the upcoming draft. D1Baseball also ranked Langford (No. 5), Waldrep (No. 14), Sproat (No. 31) and Rivera (No. 72) as top-100 college prospects for the draft.
ON DECK
Florida returns to action during the week with a home-and-home against South Florida. The Gators travel to Tampa to take on the Bulls on Tuesday at 6 p.m. (ESPN+) before hosting USF in Gainesville on Wednesday at 6 p.m. (SEC Network+). Cincinnati then comes to town for a three-game series spanning from Friday, Feb. 24 to Sunday, Feb. 26.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON GAME DAY
Those visiting Condron Family Ballpark on game day should be aware of updated traffic patterns surrounding the ballpark. Fans are advised to utilize Ballpark Way, which will serve as a connecting route to the ballpark from Archer Road.
PARKING/SHUTTLES
General Parking is available in the west Condron Family Ballpark baseball lot and the Fifield parking lot located directly across Hull Road. Disabled parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Condron Family Ballpark west lot with a valid Disabled Placard
There will be a free shuttle service provided to and from the Fifield parking lot each day of the weekend series.
For a smoother and safer entry on game day, we encourage fans to add their tickets to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay account in advance of coming to the ballpark.
