Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Since the Florida baseball team's 2019 season ended, the ballpark located at the corner of Hull Road and Museum Drive on campus has continued to rise from the ground.

As the Gators prepare for the start of the 2020 season – their final one at McKethan Stadium – they took a break from practice last week to visit Florida Ballpark, which will be the Gators' new home in 2021.

UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin led the players on their first tour of the facility, a state-of-the-art ballpark that will usher the program into a new era.

"We're all looking forward to having this done. Every time I come out here I'm blown away,'' Stricklin said. "It's going to be great for our players and our coaches, but our fans are going to be the ones that really have a total different experience from anything they have right now when they come out to the new ballpark."



Without question, the presence of Florida Ballpark on campus serves as a promising symbol for the future of the program. The Gators are one of the premiere programs in the country following their most successful decade in history and show no signs of slowing down.

That's in large part to the 2020 team that head coach Kevin O'Sullivan has assembled. With Florida's season opener two weeks away, here is a primer to get you thinking about baseball.

Meanwhile, check out FloridaGators.com for more in-depth coverage following the team's media availability on Thursday afternoon:
 
AT A GLANCE

2019 Record: 34-26 (13-17 in SEC, fifth in East)
NCAA Tournament: 1-2 in Lubbock Regional
Coach: Kevin O'Sullivan, 13th season (531-255)
Assistants: Craig Bell (13th season), Lars Davis (volunteer, 7th season), Chuck Jeroloman (1st season)
Ballpark: Final season at McKethan Stadium (5,500)
Postseason History: 36 regionals (active streak: 13), 12 CWS trips (last in 2018), 1 national title (2017)
2020 Opener: Feb. 14 vs. Marshall, 6:30 p.m.
 
PROJECTED LINEUP
 

POS.	PLAYER, YR.	AVG./HR/RBI	NOTABLE
C	Nathan Hickey, Fr.	.384/14/40*	Natural hitter who has middle-of-lineup potential
C	Cal Greenfield, Jr.	.000/0/2	Strong defender who has not played much
1B	Kendrick Calilao, So.	.276/5/49	Advanced at plate, led team in RBI as freshman
2B	Cory Acton, So.	.251/6/30	Versatile infielder who can play SS and 3B
SS	Josh Rivera, Fr.	.417/7/22**	High-level athletic prospect with bat and glove
3B	Brady Smith, Jr.	.270/5/20	Good hitter who spent last season behind plate
LF	Austin Langworthy, Sr.	.283/10/43	Quiet veteran who can hit to all fields, good power
CF	Jud Fabian, So.	.232/7/26	Excellent defensive OF still developing at plate
RF	Jacob Young, So.	.311/3/26	Versatile player who started at 2B in 2019
DH	Kirby McMullen, Sr.	.273/1/10	RH hitter with power expected to get more ABs
DH	Jordan Butler, Jr.	.358/2/11	LH option who pitches and can play 1B

*Stats as senior at Providence High in Jacksonville; **Stats as junior at IMG Academy in Bradenton
 

---

PROJECTED ROTATION
 

PITCHER	CLASS	W-L, ERA	NOTABLE
Tommy Mace	Jr.	8-5, 5.32	Team-high 16 starts, 89 2/3 IP as a sophomore
Jack Leftwich	Jr.	6-5, 5.31	Made 13 starts last year, fanned 62 in 62 2/3 IP
Hunter Barco	Fr.	5-0, 1.94*	Lefty with a mid-90s fastball, 35-4 prep record

*Stats as senior at Bolles School in Jacksonville