Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — For a guy who started his final season at Florida as the third-string catcher, Mark Kolozsvary knows all about taking advantage of an opportunity.

In 2017 when starting catcher Mike Rivera broke his hand in the middle of the season, Kolozsvary got into the lineup and produced during Rivera's absence, helping the Gators stay afloat on the way to the program's first national championship

Four years later, Kolozsvary continues to produce and open doors.

Kolozsvary, the starting catcher for Cincinnati's Double-A team in Chattanooga, Tenn., is headed to Tokyo as a member of Team USA. When the team was being assembled for qualifying rounds, Kolozsvary's reputation as a smart, hard-working young player drew the attention of team executives.

An invitation to play in qualifying rounds followed and Kolozsvary delivered. He was officially named to Team USA on Friday.

"It's a great feeling, obviously," Kolozsvary told Cincinnati.com. "Just getting out there to compete with those guys in the qualifier and kind of getting to know the team and knowing that I can actually do this at a high level and finally getting to here."   

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AT A GLANCE
 

SPORT: Baseball

POSITION: Catcher

HOW HE QUALIFIED: Team selection

TOKYO SCHEDULE: Opening-round game for U.S. is July 30 against Israel; gold-medal game is Aug. 7 at Yokohama Baseball Stadium

UF CAREER: He played for the Gators from 2015-17 and steadily improved each season. Used primarily as a reserve his first two seasons, Kolozsvary became a regular in the lineup as a junior and hit .276 with three homers and 26 RBI. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the seventh round of the 2017 draft and turned pro.

NEED TO KNOW: Kolozsvary is known more for his defense and leadership skills than his offense, but in spring training this year, he homered in a practice game against 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber of the Indians to prove he can hit, too.

QUOTE OF NOTE: "I was definitely super excited for the opportunity. It's always kind of been something I've wanted to do. I was sad when baseball wasn't in the Olympics for those couple years that it wasn't. When I got the call, I was just ecstatic. I'm really excited for the opportunity to put on the USA uniform." -- Kolozsvary to The Athletic on playing for Team USA


Previously: "Gators in the Olympics" Series
June 26: Cory McGee  
June 27: Michelle Moultrie 
June 28: Natalie Hinds 
June 29: Adriana Leon
June 30: Enzo Martinez-Scarpe
July 1: Kieran Smith 
July 2: Genevieve LaCaze Gregson
July 3: Will Claye