Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — He was an actor in one of the feel-good stories in college baseball a year ago. Deric Fabian, a UF freshman, joined older brother Jud Fabian, a hot-shot upperclassman and top MLB draft prospect, on the Gators baseball team.

Deric found a spot in the lineup right away at third base, and while he rode the roller coaster of a long season, he started 43 games and rarely rode the bench. Times change, and so do lineups.

Deric Fabian remains with the Gators, while Jud plays for Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.'s minor league team in Aberdeen, Md. In a rare turn of events, both were in the lineup on Friday night – Deric in Game 1 of Florida's Southeastern Conference East showdown against Vanderbilt and Jud in center field for the IronBirds against the Hudson Valley Renegades.

Deric started in place of shortstop Josh Rivera (concussion protocol) in Florida's surprisingly easy 10-0 run-rule victory over the Commodores that delighted the announced crowd of 6,970 at Condron Ballpark. Meanwhile, more than 800 miles away, Jud went 0-for-3 in Aberdeen's 9-7 loss before 2,253 fans at Ripken Stadium.

Much like in their only season together at Florida, the younger Deric is not often the headliner, but he certainly was Friday. Deric went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI. He didn't know if he would play until during batting practice when Rivera, one of his best friends on the team, told him he needed to be ready.

"Kind of how it happened," Fabian said.

Fabian announced his presence early, crushing a 2-1 pitch from Commodores starter Patrick Reilly for a two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning. The blast woke up the crowd and the Gators' dugout.

"That was awesome. I was so happy for him," said starting pitcher Brandon Sproat, who tossed six shutout innings. "He's been sticking his head down and grinding out. He hasn't played as much as he would like, but that just goes to show that if you stick to what you do and if you grind day in and day out … the game always comes back to you." As much as Fabian's first season was of storybook variety, his sophomore season has been more of a mystery novel. When will we see Deric Fabian again?

Fabian had not stepped into the batter's box since April 18 before he whacked Reilly's pitch to give the Gators a 2-0 lead. He started at second base against Florida A&M and drove in three runs. He entered Friday's game having played in 15 games and starting six.

Fabian's absence is because Colby Halter has third base locked down, Rivera is one of the best shortstops in the country, and Cade Kurland is having a historic freshman season at second base. Fabian is the odd man out after batting .218 with four homers and 22 RBI in 2022. He doubled his RBI total this season with Friday's breakout performance.

"I'm not going to say I called it, but I did," Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "The thing about Deric is, obviously, he's been disappointed he probably hadn't played as much as he'd like to, and he played a lot more last year. But the one thing he has not done, he has not put his head down.

"He's always been a good teammate. And I can't tell you how many extra reps he's done before and after practice to put himself in that position to have a game like this. And I just felt like there was a feeling that something good was going to happen for him tonight. Luckily enough for us, it did."

An Ocala native and lifelong Gators fan, Fabian has played the game since he was a young boy. He understands how the game can kiss you one day and spit in your face the next.

Still, before this season, he played much more than he watched.

"It's definitely been a different challenge I've faced," he said. "It's hard to stay locked in mentally. But it's just something you have to do if you're in the role that I am in. If I can help the team in any way, that's really all I care about, whether that's cheering guys on the bench or playing like I did today."

Rivera will be back soon, possibly as early as Saturday. O'Sullivan said he was unsure if Fabian would play after Friday's victory.

That's the life of a bench player. One day you're the star. The next day you're a spectator. Fabian followed his home run with a two-run single on Friday, making the most of his turn in the spotlight.

He wore his emotions on his sleeve, his adrenaline on full display after his big hits.

"I'd call myself a passionate player," he said. "I feel like that's a role I can play to bring energy to the team, especially in those moments."

"I couldn't be more happy for him," O'Sullivan said. "I know his teammates were fired up at the end of the game."

In his quest to remain engaged, Fabian has four gloves in his locker – an outfielder's glove, an infielder's, a practice mitt and a first baseman's – and spends ample time on his swing.

"A lot of one-on-me time in the cage," he said.

The work paid off in a big way against Vanderbilt. Fabian delivered in his long-awaited return to the lineup.

Asked whether he expected Jud to call, Deric said: "He's probably calling me right now. My phone's ringing."

Based on the clock, it was probably somebody else since Jud's game was going on while Deric spoke to reporters.

Then again, who knows? The unexpected was the theme of the night for the Fabians.

And the Gators.