Jac Caglianone was the face of the Gators in 2024, breaking the program's career home run record along the way. (Photo: John Paternoster/UAA Communications)
Caglianone's Star Shines Bright as MLB Draft Nears
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 | Baseball, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In an era when two-way star Shohei Ohtani is one of Major League Baseball's top draws, reviving images of a young Babe Ruth, Jac Caglianone captured the imagination of Gators fans by exhibiting similar ability.
Caglianone was undoubtedly the face of the Gators in 2024 with the departure of Wyatt Langford. He nearly single-handedly kept Florida in the postseason race during stretches of the regular season, and when many of his teammates started to produce as the Gators heated up and made an unexpected run to Omaha, Caglianone continued to blast tape-measure home runs and take his turn in the starting rotation.
When Florida's season ended June 19 with a loss to Texas A&M in the College World Series, Caglianone finally had to face the end. A junior, Caglianone has another season of eligibility remaining, but since his first at-bat of the season, everyone knew that Caglianone was a short-timer. He will be among the top picks in Sunday's MLB amateur draft and threaten Mike Zunino (third overall, 2012) as the highest-drafted player in program history.
An emotional Caglianone reflected on his UF journey immediately after losing to Texas A&M.
"It's tough. I gave all I had to this program,'' Caglianone told Orlando's WESH-TV. "I just can't thank the coaching staff enough for what they've done for me. I dreaded the day I had to take this jersey off for the last time, and I guess it's tonight. Mentally, I just wasn't ready for it.
"I couldn't ask for a better career. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to share it with."
Caglianone's junior season raised the bar on Gators greatness.
He hit .419, second all-time on the school's single-season list (Allen Trammell hit .425 in 1965). He crushed a school-record 35 home runs and topped Matt LaPorta (74) for most career home runs (75) in program history. Caglianone's 104 hits matched the single-season school record held by former teammates Mark Kiger and Pat Osborn (2002). Meanwhile, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound lefty went 5-2 with a 4.76 ERA (73 2/3 innings) in 16 starts for a Florida team that entered the NCAA Tournament a game above .500 (28-27). After its postseason push, Florida finished 36-30 and ranked sixth by Baseball America.
Caglianone is no slouch with the glove, either, drawing praise for his defense at the CWS when Texas A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle, since hired by Texas, called Caglianone the best defensive first baseman he has ever seen in college baseball.
The Gators recruited Caglianone out of Plant High in Tampa as a pitcher coming off Tommy John Surgery. They knew he could hit, but Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan said Caglianone had worked tirelessly to improve in all facets to become the player that drew pro scouts in waves to Condron Ballpark.
"The things I do mention – it's obvious that he's got special hitting ability – but what he's been able to do to the other parts of his game. Defensively, he's just a difference-maker on that side of the ball,'' O'Sullivan said. "He runs the bases really good. He makes really good decisions. Those are the things I try to point out. He's really turned himself into a complete player."
A Gators team in any sport is not often considered an underdog, but the 2024 Gators went from barely making the NCAA Tournament to one of the final three teams standing in Omaha.
Reliever Brandon Neely was sensational in the postseason. Starters Liam Peterson and Pierce Coppola chipped in with some much-needed innings, and reliever Fisher Jameson saved his best for last. The lineup got a boost from reserve outfielder Ashton Wilson, and regulars Colby Shelton, Cade Kurland, Michael Robertson, Dale Thomas, Brody Donay and Luke Heyman had their moments.
But everyone knows if not for Caglianone, the Gators would not have sniffed the postseason in 2024, much less made it to Omaha for the ninth time in O'Sullivan's 17 seasons.
Where will Caglianone play next? Will he go to the Rockies with the third overall pick? What about No. 5 to the White Sox? Will Oakland grab him at fourth overall? Some say he could drop to seventh to the Cardinals.
Based on the latest projections, most have Cleveland selecting Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana or West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt with the No. 1 overall pick. After that, the mock drafters are all over the place.
What is certain is that Caglianone's place in Gators lore is secure.
*****
The transfer portal is closed, and many players across the country have yet to find a home or announce whether they are staying at their current school. The same is true for the Gators.
Here are the Gators who entered the portal and their next school if they have announced they are leaving: LHP Cade Fisher (N/A), LHP Robert Satin (Tampa), OF Michael Robertson (N/A), RHP Hunter Jones (N/A), RHP Reilly Witmer (N/A), IF/OF Landon Russell (Stetson), RHP Grayson Smith (Tulane), INF John Martinez (Florida Atlantic), INF Sammy Mummau (Jacksonville), Alex Philpott (N/A), OF Blake Brookins (N/A), LHP Jacob Gomberg (N/A).
Meanwhile, players who have announced their commitments to UF: 1B/DH Landon Stripling (Texas Tech), OF/IF Blake Cyr (Miami), IF Justin Nadeau (Jacksonville), RHP Michael Ross (Samford), OF Kyle Jones (Stetson) and RHP Billy Barlow (Clemson).
Caglianone was undoubtedly the face of the Gators in 2024 with the departure of Wyatt Langford. He nearly single-handedly kept Florida in the postseason race during stretches of the regular season, and when many of his teammates started to produce as the Gators heated up and made an unexpected run to Omaha, Caglianone continued to blast tape-measure home runs and take his turn in the starting rotation.
When Florida's season ended June 19 with a loss to Texas A&M in the College World Series, Caglianone finally had to face the end. A junior, Caglianone has another season of eligibility remaining, but since his first at-bat of the season, everyone knew that Caglianone was a short-timer. He will be among the top picks in Sunday's MLB amateur draft and threaten Mike Zunino (third overall, 2012) as the highest-drafted player in program history.
An emotional Caglianone reflected on his UF journey immediately after losing to Texas A&M.
"It's tough. I gave all I had to this program,'' Caglianone told Orlando's WESH-TV. "I just can't thank the coaching staff enough for what they've done for me. I dreaded the day I had to take this jersey off for the last time, and I guess it's tonight. Mentally, I just wasn't ready for it.
"I couldn't ask for a better career. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to share it with."
Caglianone's junior season raised the bar on Gators greatness.
He hit .419, second all-time on the school's single-season list (Allen Trammell hit .425 in 1965). He crushed a school-record 35 home runs and topped Matt LaPorta (74) for most career home runs (75) in program history. Caglianone's 104 hits matched the single-season school record held by former teammates Mark Kiger and Pat Osborn (2002). Meanwhile, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound lefty went 5-2 with a 4.76 ERA (73 2/3 innings) in 16 starts for a Florida team that entered the NCAA Tournament a game above .500 (28-27). After its postseason push, Florida finished 36-30 and ranked sixth by Baseball America.
Caglianone is no slouch with the glove, either, drawing praise for his defense at the CWS when Texas A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle, since hired by Texas, called Caglianone the best defensive first baseman he has ever seen in college baseball.
The Gators recruited Caglianone out of Plant High in Tampa as a pitcher coming off Tommy John Surgery. They knew he could hit, but Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan said Caglianone had worked tirelessly to improve in all facets to become the player that drew pro scouts in waves to Condron Ballpark.
"The things I do mention – it's obvious that he's got special hitting ability – but what he's been able to do to the other parts of his game. Defensively, he's just a difference-maker on that side of the ball,'' O'Sullivan said. "He runs the bases really good. He makes really good decisions. Those are the things I try to point out. He's really turned himself into a complete player."
A Gators team in any sport is not often considered an underdog, but the 2024 Gators went from barely making the NCAA Tournament to one of the final three teams standing in Omaha.
Reliever Brandon Neely was sensational in the postseason. Starters Liam Peterson and Pierce Coppola chipped in with some much-needed innings, and reliever Fisher Jameson saved his best for last. The lineup got a boost from reserve outfielder Ashton Wilson, and regulars Colby Shelton, Cade Kurland, Michael Robertson, Dale Thomas, Brody Donay and Luke Heyman had their moments.
But everyone knows if not for Caglianone, the Gators would not have sniffed the postseason in 2024, much less made it to Omaha for the ninth time in O'Sullivan's 17 seasons.
Where will Caglianone play next? Will he go to the Rockies with the third overall pick? What about No. 5 to the White Sox? Will Oakland grab him at fourth overall? Some say he could drop to seventh to the Cardinals.
Based on the latest projections, most have Cleveland selecting Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana or West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt with the No. 1 overall pick. After that, the mock drafters are all over the place.
What is certain is that Caglianone's place in Gators lore is secure.
*****
The transfer portal is closed, and many players across the country have yet to find a home or announce whether they are staying at their current school. The same is true for the Gators.
Here are the Gators who entered the portal and their next school if they have announced they are leaving: LHP Cade Fisher (N/A), LHP Robert Satin (Tampa), OF Michael Robertson (N/A), RHP Hunter Jones (N/A), RHP Reilly Witmer (N/A), IF/OF Landon Russell (Stetson), RHP Grayson Smith (Tulane), INF John Martinez (Florida Atlantic), INF Sammy Mummau (Jacksonville), Alex Philpott (N/A), OF Blake Brookins (N/A), LHP Jacob Gomberg (N/A).
Meanwhile, players who have announced their commitments to UF: 1B/DH Landon Stripling (Texas Tech), OF/IF Blake Cyr (Miami), IF Justin Nadeau (Jacksonville), RHP Michael Ross (Samford), OF Kyle Jones (Stetson) and RHP Billy Barlow (Clemson).
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