GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida baseball program's 2022 fall practice season will begin on Oct. 9 and once again features an exhibition game against Georgia in Jacksonville, set for Friday, Oct. 28.
The exhibition game, which was officially announced by the City of Jacksonville on Thursday, will kick off Florida-Georgia weekend with the annual rivalry on the gridiron scheduled to follow on Saturday, Oct. 29. Tickets for this year's baseball showdown are priced at $15 and officially went on sale as of Thursday, Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. ET on
Ticketmaster.com.
Played at 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 28, the Gators will take on the Bulldogs on the diamond for the second year in a row and for the third time in the last four years. Florida and Georgia split the first two installments in the fall exhibition series, with the Gators coming out on top in 2019 while the Bulldogs prevailed in a 2021 rematch.
The annual fall matchup will continue through at least 2023. The home team rotates each year, with Georgia serving as such in 2022.
Facing off against Georgia is just one component in Florida's upcoming schedule, as the Gators begin fall practice on Sunday, Oct. 9 and host Stetson at Condron Family Ballpark on Saturday, Nov. 5. Fall practice will run approximately six weeks, concluding with the Orange vs. Blue Series on Nov. 10, 11 and 13.
Staying consistent with past years, the gates of Condron Family Ballpark will be open to the public for the duration of fall practice.
More information regarding the Florida vs. Stetson game will be announced at a later date.
| Important Fall Dates |
| Sunday, Oct. 9 |
First day of fall practice |
| Friday, Oct. 28 |
Florida vs. Georgia (in Jacksonville) |
| Saturday, Nov. 5 |
Florida vs. Stetson (Condron Family Ballpark) |
| Nov. 10, 11 & 13 |
Orange vs. Blue Series |
Looking ahead to 2023, Florida returns a surplus of talent beginning with First Team All-American outfielder
Wyatt Langford, who tied the program record with 26 home runs last season while batting .355/.447/.719. Also back in Orange & Blue is returning Friday night starter
Brandon Sproat, who earned Southeast-ABCA All-Region honors after going 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA and .218 batting average against in his last six starts of the season.
Sproat projects to pair with All-American Southern Miss transfer hurler Hurston Waldrep in leading the UF pitching staff. Freshman All-SEC performer
Brandon Neely will provide depth as well, having contributed a 3.76 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 69 1/3 frames one year ago.
Sproat is just one member of a notable list of draft-eligible Gators returning to campus for the 2023 season. That group also features First Team All-SEC catcher
BT Riopelle, as well as starting infielders
Colby Halter and
Josh Rivera.
Florida's 2022-23 class of incoming players can be found below.
| 2022-23 UF Baseball Newcomers |
| Name |
Position |
B/T |
Hometown/High School (Previous School) |
| Dale Thomas |
INF |
R/R |
De Leon Springs, Fla. / Coastal Carolina / Bishop Moore HS |
| Cade Fisher |
LHP |
L/L |
Dalton, Ga. / Northwest Whitfeld County |
| Cade Kurland |
INF |
R/R |
Tampa, Fla. / Berkeley Prep |
| Tyler Shelnut |
INF |
R/R |
Lake City, Fla. / Santa Fe CC / Fort White HS |
| Salvador Alvarez |
C |
R/R |
Miami, Fla. / Montverde Academy |
| Hurston Waldrep |
RHP |
R/R |
Thomasville, Ga. / Southern Miss / Thomasville HS |
| Yoel Tejeda |
RHP/1B |
S/R |
Davie, Fla. / North Broward Prep |
| Jake Clemente |
RHP |
R/R |
Coral Springs, Fla. / Majory Stoneman Douglas |
| Richie Schiekofer |
OF |
L/R |
Millburn, N.J. / Rutgers / Millburn HS |
| Clete Hartzog |
RHP |
L/R |
Panama City, Fla. / Wallace CC-Dothan / Mosley HS |
| Luke Heyman |
C |
R/R |
Longwood, Fla. / Lake Brantley |
| Erik Blair |
OF |
L/L |
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. / American Heritage |
| Chris Arroyo |
LHP/OF |
L/L |
Coral Springs, Fla. / Majory Stoneman Douglas |
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