Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kevin O'Sullivan didn't hesitate. Why would he. He has watched Nick Horvath roam the Gators' outfield for three seasons.

"I know I'm biased, but I don't think there's any question in my mind,'' he said.

During a recent interview, O'Sullivan was asked which player he thought was the best defensive center fielder in the Southeastern Conference. It wasn't a trick question, although the expression on O'Sullivan's face may have suggested otherwise.

After all, O'Sullivan witnessed Horvath make one of the biggest plays in school history last June at the College World Series. In Florida's win over LSU in Game 1 of the championship series, the Gators owned a two-run lead in the eighth inning when Josh Smith drilled a pitch into the right-center gap for an RBI single, trimming the lead to one with only one out.

Smith had a double on his mind. So did Horvath, who fielded the ball cleanly and came up firing. Horvath's strike to shortstop Dalton Guthrie nailed Smith for the second out of the inning and proved huge in Florida's 4-3 win.

It was the type of play that can define a player's career. Especially one with Horvath's modest offensive numbers entering his senior season.

"Now he's helping us out offensively,'' O'Sullivan said.

When Horvath stepped to the plate for the first time this season, he owned a career .173 batting average, two home runs -- both coming in 2016 -- and 11 RBIs. By the seventh game of the season, Horvath had matched his RBI total (six) from a season ago.

He hasn't let up.

Horvath came through again in No. 1-ranked Florida's 12-3 win over Auburn on Saturday, lifting the Gators to their 17th consecutive series win dating to last season with a bases-clearing, three-run double in a six-run fourth inning. Horvath smacked a fastball from reliever Davis Daniel into the left-center gap to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead.
 
Horvath's emergence as an offensive threat makes him not only arguably the best defensive center fielder in the league, but one of the best center fielders in the league period. Horvath is batting .291 with six homers and 30 RBIs to go along with a .500 slugging percentage.

As the Gators (36-10, 16-5) prepare for the final stretch of the regular season – they don't play again until Friday at Texas A&M – Horvath is one of the most improved players in the country for a team that has a second consecutive national title on its mind.

"He is a much better offensive player and I think it's from all the extra effort that he puts in,'' shortstop Deacon Liput said Saturday. "He's always the first guy in the cage and last one to leave kind of guy. He's matured a lot. He's really been a leader of this team."

Horvath joined the Gators two years ago after playing at nearby Santa Fe College as a freshman out of Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) High School. Horvath put up decent numbers (.258, 3 HRs, 33 RBIs) for the Saints but spent much of his first season at UF as a situational lefty reliever and late-inning defensive replacement in the outfield.

He saw more time in the lineup as a sophomore despite the quiet bat.

"You saw me stay with him a lot last year,'' O'Sullivan said. "He played a lot. He's a senior. He's matured. He's had a lot of at-bats underneath his belt. I'm just pleased he's having a good year. I did not know going into the year that he wasn't going to pitching as much. I thought he would contribute a little bit more on the mound."

Instead, lefties Jordan Butler and Andrew Baker are getting the bulk of work that used to go to Horvath on the mound. He has made only three relief appearances.

Horvath isn't much of a self-promoter. He is courteous but brief when asked by enquiring minds about his offensive leap.

"It feels good, just knowing what I'm capable of and kind of seeing it all work out,'' he said.

Has he surprised himself?

"Yes/no,'' he offers following some starts and stops. "I knew I could kind of put together a few good at-bats throughout the season and you guys are just seeing it now. Physically, it's not anything. I just think I'm in a better spot mentally. I've always believed that more than half this game is mental, so if you just get your mind right you can do anything."

Horvath showed signs of what was to come after the CWS. He returned home to South Florida and spent the second half of the summer playing in the Collegiate League of Palm Beaches in its inaugural season.

Horvath hit .381 (16-for-42) with four homers and 13 RBIs in 14 games. Horvath said reconnecting with former coaches and teammates he grew up with helped him relax and find a new comfort zone in the game.

"He's always been a really hard worker but I've noticed that he has really been focusing on [offensive improvement] throughout the offseason and it's obviously paying off,'' Liput said. "I would like to say yes, but honestly, I'm not really that surprised. I've seen him in the fall and I've seen what he is capable of. This is just a matter of him showing it to everybody else.

"He loves being out here and being with the guys and just playing this game. He's a real competitor. He goes out each and every day and gives it his all."

O'Sullivan said he didn't have specific offensive numbers in mind for Horvath's final season. He just knew there was untapped potential there, recalling a key home run Horvath hit at South Carolina two years ago.

Horvath's arrival appears to be your classic opportunity-plus-preparation-equals-results method.

"He's got sneaky strength,'' O'Sullivan said. "He certainly has the ability to drive the ball."

Saturday's win over Auburn marked Horvath's eighth multi-RBI game of the season. When the Gators fell behind 3-0 in the first inning, Horvath said no one panicked. The Gators' offense is too good for that.

Horvath is now one of the reasons why. While enquiring minds continue to marvel at his turnaround, Horvath shrugs his shoulders and disappears back to the clubhouse.

"Being older. That's about it," he said. "It's not like I did anything special. Same old Nick Horvath."

Same old Nick Horvath, new and improved with a bat in his hands.