Gators catcher Wyatt Langford takes a practice swing during a game with the Charlottesville Tom Sox of the Valley League.
Gators Summer Baseball Update: July 15
Thursday, July 15, 2021 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As the summer baseball season reaches the middle of July, a collection of current University of Florida players remain busy as they work on improving their respective skill sets through various developmental leagues.
At present, Gators can be found with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, Cape Cod League, Coastal Plains League, Florida Collegiate Summer League and Valley League.
1B/DH Kris Armstrong | Cape Cod League | Falmouth Commodores
Having arrived at the Cape Cod League at the onset of July, Armstrong has not accumulated as many at-bats as some of his Gators teammates. Even so, the Jupiter, Fla. native already popped two home runs in his first 22 at-bats, while also chipping in one double, four runs and four RBI. All told, Armstrong owns a .227/.227/.545 batting line, translating to a .772 on-base plus slugging.
LHP Hunter Barco | USA Collegiate National Team
Barco has only appeared in one game for the USA Collegiate National Team thus far, but he took advantage of the opportunity and then some. After striking out the first six batters he faced in a July 6 relief outing, Barco proceeded to cap off his day with eight total strikeouts across three shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and only two of the 10 batters he faced managed to put the ball in play.
C Wyatt Langford | Valley League | Charlottesville Tom Sox
Langford is quite possibly enjoying the best summer of any Gators player, as evidenced by his 2021 Valley Baseball League All-Star selection. Through 27 games, Langford is slashing .341/.455/.505 with two home runs, two triples, five doubles, 17 runs, 16 RBI, 16 walks and six stolen bases. Langford is a major reason why Charlottesville currently boasts the best record in the VBL at 24-9.
LHP Timmy Manning | Cape Cod League | Harwich Mariners
Across two starts for Harwich, Manning totaled seven innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits. Manning's four strikeouts and zero walks paved the way to a pristine 1.14 WHIP.
RHP Blake Purnell | Coastal Plains League | Peninsula Pilots
Purnell has made two appearances this summer including one start for a total of 4.1 innings of work. The right-hander allowed five runs and struck out two batters.
INF Josh Rivera | Cape Cod League | Chatham Anglers
From July 4 to July 11, Rivera enjoyed a six-game hitting streak during which he batted .471 (8-for-17) with two doubles, four runs, three walks and one RBI. The Florida shortstop enters Thursday with hits in seven of his last eight games. Through 20 total games with Chatham, Rivera has racked up 59 at bats and is slashing .237/.308/.271.
RHP Brandon Sproat | USA Collegiate National Team
In his most-recent start on July 13, Sproat fired three shutout innings to earn the victory. He allowed just three hits and struck out four, effectively lowering his ERA to 3.00 across six frames. Sproat has now struck out four batters apiece in two separate three-inning starts, the first of which preceded Barco's eight-strikeout relief performance on July 6.
OF Tucker Talbott | Florida Collegiate Summer League | Seminole County Snappers
Talbott represents another Gator who only got his summer season started at the beginning of July, as he has only registered 21 at-bats with Seminole Country to this point. The Florida outfielder is making good use of his time with the squad, however, bringing in the game-winning run on July 9 and delivering a walk-off fielder's choice on July 12. Through seven games, Talbott has four hits, one double and one walk.
OF Sterlin Thompson | Florida Collegiate Summer League | Winter Park Diamond Dawgs
As a 2021 FSCL All-Star, Thompson wields an active five-game hitting streak and has collected hits in seven of his last eight games. Overall, Thompson is batting a robust .394/.412/.576 with two home runs, nine RBI, seven runs, one walk and three stolen bases. Thompson only has three strikeouts to his name in 34 plate appearances, translating to a miniscule 8.8 strikeout percentage.
Below is a complete list of Gators and their 2021 summer league assignments.
At present, Gators can be found with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, Cape Cod League, Coastal Plains League, Florida Collegiate Summer League and Valley League.
1B/DH Kris Armstrong | Cape Cod League | Falmouth Commodores
Having arrived at the Cape Cod League at the onset of July, Armstrong has not accumulated as many at-bats as some of his Gators teammates. Even so, the Jupiter, Fla. native already popped two home runs in his first 22 at-bats, while also chipping in one double, four runs and four RBI. All told, Armstrong owns a .227/.227/.545 batting line, translating to a .772 on-base plus slugging.
LHP Hunter Barco | USA Collegiate National Team
Barco has only appeared in one game for the USA Collegiate National Team thus far, but he took advantage of the opportunity and then some. After striking out the first six batters he faced in a July 6 relief outing, Barco proceeded to cap off his day with eight total strikeouts across three shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and only two of the 10 batters he faced managed to put the ball in play.
Pretty good day on the mound for @hunter_barco.
— USA Baseball CNT (@USABaseballCNT) July 7, 2021
3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K@GatorsBB | #ForGlory 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/820Xt4e3Te
C Wyatt Langford | Valley League | Charlottesville Tom Sox
Langford is quite possibly enjoying the best summer of any Gators player, as evidenced by his 2021 Valley Baseball League All-Star selection. Through 27 games, Langford is slashing .341/.455/.505 with two home runs, two triples, five doubles, 17 runs, 16 RBI, 16 walks and six stolen bases. Langford is a major reason why Charlottesville currently boasts the best record in the VBL at 24-9.
Last 2 home games? 2 walkoffs 😏@GatorsBB | @langford_wyatt pic.twitter.com/OZeRKr4uRz
— Charlottesville Tom Sox (@CvilleTomSoxVBL) June 21, 2021
LHP Timmy Manning | Cape Cod League | Harwich Mariners
Across two starts for Harwich, Manning totaled seven innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits. Manning's four strikeouts and zero walks paved the way to a pristine 1.14 WHIP.
RHP Blake Purnell | Coastal Plains League | Peninsula Pilots
Purnell has made two appearances this summer including one start for a total of 4.1 innings of work. The right-hander allowed five runs and struck out two batters.
INF Josh Rivera | Cape Cod League | Chatham Anglers
From July 4 to July 11, Rivera enjoyed a six-game hitting streak during which he batted .471 (8-for-17) with two doubles, four runs, three walks and one RBI. The Florida shortstop enters Thursday with hits in seven of his last eight games. Through 20 total games with Chatham, Rivera has racked up 59 at bats and is slashing .237/.308/.271.
Josh Rivera (2022) @ChathamAnglers w/ a base hit up the middle. Rivera has stood out for his defense here on the Cape, bat is starting to come along. #PGCape pic.twitter.com/9Od5lzEGzI
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) July 11, 2021
RHP Brandon Sproat | USA Collegiate National Team
In his most-recent start on July 13, Sproat fired three shutout innings to earn the victory. He allowed just three hits and struck out four, effectively lowering his ERA to 3.00 across six frames. Sproat has now struck out four batters apiece in two separate three-inning starts, the first of which preceded Barco's eight-strikeout relief performance on July 6.
4⃣ punchouts for Brandon Sproat as he posts three scoreless of his own.
— USA Baseball CNT (@USABaseballCNT) July 14, 2021
Stars 0, Stripes 0 | T4@GatorsBB | #ForGlory 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/aTLzZHUoMN
OF Tucker Talbott | Florida Collegiate Summer League | Seminole County Snappers
Talbott represents another Gator who only got his summer season started at the beginning of July, as he has only registered 21 at-bats with Seminole Country to this point. The Florida outfielder is making good use of his time with the squad, however, bringing in the game-winning run on July 9 and delivering a walk-off fielder's choice on July 12. Through seven games, Talbott has four hits, one double and one walk.
OF Sterlin Thompson | Florida Collegiate Summer League | Winter Park Diamond Dawgs
As a 2021 FSCL All-Star, Thompson wields an active five-game hitting streak and has collected hits in seven of his last eight games. Overall, Thompson is batting a robust .394/.412/.576 with two home runs, nine RBI, seven runs, one walk and three stolen bases. Thompson only has three strikeouts to his name in 34 plate appearances, translating to a miniscule 8.8 strikeout percentage.
Florida Gator, Sterlin Thompson will make his All-Star debut tonight with the Dawgs in his second Florida League season! Thompson is slashing .348/.375/.609 with an AVG that leads the team. See you in DeLand, Sterlin! #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/C79R8fCHS7
— Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (@WP_DiamondDawgs) July 6, 2021
Below is a complete list of Gators and their 2021 summer league assignments.
| Florida Baseball 2021 Summer Baseball Assignments | |
| 1B/DH Kris Armstrong | Cape Cod League - Falmouth Commodores |
| LHP Hunter Barco | USA Collegiate National Team |
| LHP Timmy Manning | Cape Cod League - Harwich Mariners |
| RHP Blake Purnell | Coastal Plains League - Peninsula Pilots |
| INF Josh Rivera | Cape Cod League - Chatham Anglers |
| RHP Brandon Sproat | USA Collegiate National Team |
| OF Tucker Talbott | Florida Collegiate Summer League - Seminole County Snappers |
| OF Sterlin Thompson | Florida Collegiate Summer League - Winter Park Diamond Dawgs |
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