Meet the Gators: BT Riopelle
Monday, September 27, 2021 | Baseball
There are 17 new faces joining the University of Florida baseball program this year, featuring 16 freshmen and one four-year college transfer. As the team looks ahead to the start of the 2022 season in February, FloridaGators.com will be sitting down with each of these talented newcomers to introduce this year's incoming class in a feature series dubbed "Meet the Gators."
Leading off the 2021 Meet the Gators series is transfer catcher BT Riopelle, who comes to Florida after spending three seasons at Coastal Carolina. As a native of Atlanta, Riopelle attended Lassiter High School, where he starred as a two-sport athlete and earned four varsity letters both on the diamond and on the gridiron.
Prior to taking his talents to the college game, Riopelle was a 2018 Rawlings/Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and a two-time Second Team Class AAAAAA All-State selection at Lassiter. In addition to the aforementioned accolades, Riopelle was a four-time All-Region honoree and was one of 10 students across the nation to receive a Lutzie 43 Character Award Scholarship in 2018.
At Coastal Carolina, Riopelle was named Second Team All-Sunbelt Conference at catcher during his junior 2021 season after batting .270/.354/.459 with career highs in hits (50), home runs (eight), doubles (11), RBI (27), runs (27), walks (17), steals (eight) and fielding percentage (.980). The newly-minted Gators backstop also garnered recognition on the 2021 Buster Posey Award Watch List, which is awarded annually to the best all-around catcher in college baseball.
Over the course of 83 career games at Coastal Carolina, Riopelle slashed .267/.367/.477 with 12 home runs, one triple, 16 doubles, 46 runs, 43 RBI and nine stolen bases across 258 at-bats. Following his decision to transfer to Florida, D1Baseball tabbed Riopelle as the No. 42 impact transfer in the country for the upcoming 2022 season.
On top of excelling athletically as a collegiate student-athlete, Riopelle also shined off the field. He was named to the Dean's List all three years at Coastal Carolina and also served as one of the baseball team's representatives on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
As the son of Duane and Cappi Riopelle, BT has one sister, Brynn. He is majoring in sport management at the University of Florida.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Leading off the 2021 Meet the Gators series is transfer catcher BT Riopelle, who comes to Florida after spending three seasons at Coastal Carolina. As a native of Atlanta, Riopelle attended Lassiter High School, where he starred as a two-sport athlete and earned four varsity letters both on the diamond and on the gridiron.
Prior to taking his talents to the college game, Riopelle was a 2018 Rawlings/Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and a two-time Second Team Class AAAAAA All-State selection at Lassiter. In addition to the aforementioned accolades, Riopelle was a four-time All-Region honoree and was one of 10 students across the nation to receive a Lutzie 43 Character Award Scholarship in 2018.
I am excited to announce that I have committed to play baseball and further my degree at the University of Florida! Go Gators🐊 pic.twitter.com/z18AmyJ8Av
— Bradley Riopelle (@bradleyriopelle) June 2, 2021
At Coastal Carolina, Riopelle was named Second Team All-Sunbelt Conference at catcher during his junior 2021 season after batting .270/.354/.459 with career highs in hits (50), home runs (eight), doubles (11), RBI (27), runs (27), walks (17), steals (eight) and fielding percentage (.980). The newly-minted Gators backstop also garnered recognition on the 2021 Buster Posey Award Watch List, which is awarded annually to the best all-around catcher in college baseball.
Over the course of 83 career games at Coastal Carolina, Riopelle slashed .267/.367/.477 with 12 home runs, one triple, 16 doubles, 46 runs, 43 RBI and nine stolen bases across 258 at-bats. Following his decision to transfer to Florida, D1Baseball tabbed Riopelle as the No. 42 impact transfer in the country for the upcoming 2022 season.
BT Riopelle comes in at 𝐍𝐨. 𝟒𝟐 on D1Baseball's list of top-75 impact transfers.#GoGators // 🐊⚾️ pic.twitter.com/Lw88wZMDBo
— Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) September 10, 2021
On top of excelling athletically as a collegiate student-athlete, Riopelle also shined off the field. He was named to the Dean's List all three years at Coastal Carolina and also served as one of the baseball team's representatives on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
As the son of Duane and Cappi Riopelle, BT has one sister, Brynn. He is majoring in sport management at the University of Florida.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
2025 Florida Baseball Season Highlights
Monday, June 23
Florida-Fairfield Highlights
Saturday, May 31
5.31.25 Conway Regional Postgame
Saturday, May 31
5.30.25 Conway Regional Postgame
Friday, May 30
