Ernesto Lugo-Canchola has struck out 11 and surrendered one run over his first 8 2/3 innings out of the UF bullpen this season. (Photo: Rachel Rusch/UAA Communications)
The Call That Changed Everything for Gators Reliever Ernesto Lugo-Canchola
Friday, February 27, 2026 | Baseball
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By: Ryan Roddy, FloridaGators.com Writing Intern
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Picture this.
You are traveling on Interstate 70, the cool, directed AC hits your cheek, one hand on the wheel as you gaze off at the open road ahead, listening to the sweet symphonies of the regional classic rock station or your Spotify playlist that guides you.
You are with your grandparents, who graciously agreed to accompany you on the ride and share the journey.
Not an hour trip to visit your cousins in the next county, but a cross-country three-day trip to go to a place you've never been before, a place you will spend almost a year of your life, all on the back of one single phone call.
You have a lot of time to think, so what's going through your head?
This is not the beginning of a Hallmark movie; this is the story and experience of Florida Gators left-handed pitcher Ernesto Lugo-Canchola, who has emerged as a reliable out-eater for UF's bullpen heading into this weekend's three-game series at Miami.
Ernesto Lugo-Canchola, left, and catcher Cole Stanford in the dugout during Wednesday's win over FIU at Condron Ballpark. (Photo: Avery Duffy/UAA Communications)
Just a few months ago, Lugo-Canchola was ready to trade his collegiate spikes for those of independent ball, looking to continue playing the game he loves, regardless of the level or circumstances.
Then something changed. Like the feeling of finding something you've been desperately searching for, back in the same place you left it. It was never truly lost.
After entering the transfer portal as soon as it opened, Lugo-Canchola said he was denied multiple times before he learned he had been granted another year, about a month later.
After four years in college baseball, starting at the junior-college level and ending at Division II Northwest Nazarene, Lugo-Canchola made the jump not just to DI but to the Southeastern Conference when he signed with the Gators last summer, a decision made after taking that call from UF pitching coach David Kopp.
"I was told I had another year to play. And actually, Kopp called me, and then I had an amazing phone call with Sully [Kevin O'Sullivan]. And I was all in after that phone call," Lugo-Canchola said.
When Lugo-Canchola finally arrived at Condron Ballpark with his grandparents, whom he said he brought with him because "they don't get to explore much in the states," Kopp knew he was different based on his appearance. Ernesto Lugo-Canchola and his cowboy hat. (Photo: Hannah White)
"When he showed up to the field, he texted me, 'Hey Kopp, you around? Like I'm at the field with my grandparents," Kopp said. "That's the first time I ever met him, and he showed up with a cowboy hat on, and you don't really see too many cowboy hats in Gainesville, right? … I was like, 'This guy is comfortable in his own skin, and he's got a chance to do well here.' "
So maybe Lugo-Canchola wasn't listening to classic rock, but rather a little more sweet, subtle country on the ride over, but that doesn't change the fact that he was the player he was before he came to UF. He wasn't a no-name portal prospect, with limited accolades and inexperience on the big stage.
He was quite the opposite, actually.
In 2025, he was honored as the D2 Pitcher of the Year, a First Team All-American (D2, NCBWA), a First Team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and the GNAC Newcomer of the Year, all reflected in the stats that jump off the page.
In 16 starts, he pitched 92 ⅔ innings with a 103-44 strikeout-walk ratio, a 2.00 ERA and a 13-0 record.
He pitched the Nighthawks all the way to the Division II College World Series, where he faced an in-state coach who recommended Lugo-Canchola to coach Kevin O'Sullivan.
"Talk to Joe Urso down there in Tampa because they played him last year," O'Sullivan said. "He raved about him."
O'Sullivan never saw Lugo-Canchola live, but watched video of him and trusted Urso.
It is safe to say Urso, a seven-time national championship-winning coach, is a fair evaluator of talent.
Lugo-Canchola said he was originally contacted by Urso, who said he would look good in a University of Tampa uniform, but had to give him the unfortunate news that he had only Division I eligibility left.
Against "one of the best DII teams" he had ever seen, Lugo-Canchola pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out seven and walking five.
As a Gator, the southpaw has gotten out to a hot start.
After O'Sullivan took the ball from him Feb. 18, with Florida leading Stetson 9-3, Lugo-Canchola was seen walking off the mound with a smile that could stretch the distance he traveled to get to Gainesville, before he flaunted his arms in the air to hype up the home crowd following three hitless innings.
The gesture ultimately surprised the skipper.
"I never saw that side of him, to be quite honest with you," O'Sullivan said. "Even-keeled, kind of quiet, but I think he's starting to come out of his shell a little bit. I keep hearing from the players that he's humorous, he's really humorous, he's funny."
Ernesto Lugo-Canchola locks in on a batter during a delivery in Wednesday's game against FIU. (Photo: Avery Duffy/UAA Communications)
He is doing so at the right time as he begins to get comfortable with his new squad.
But when he is on the mound, it is strictly business.
In his first two appearances with Florida, Lugo-Canchola retired his first 17 batters he faced in order. Across the 17 batters, he recorded seven punchouts.
"It's amazing. I didn't even know he did that until somebody mentioned that," Kopp said. "I knew he was pitching good; I didn't know it was like 17 in a row, and the good ol' pitching coach says nobody should say anything because that's a jinx for sure."
Kopp's intuition proved correct. Lugo-Canchola's streak went to 19 before a Kennesaw State batter reached first on a third strike wild pitch in Sunday's outing. Lugo-Canchola has pitched 8 ⅔ innings, striking out 11, allowing four hits, three walks and one run, equating to a 1.04 ERA in four relief appearances.
O'Sullivan remains confident in Lugo-Canchola, who is from Pleasant Grove, Utah, and describes him the way you would want to be described by your coach.
"I think it's a great story," O'Sullivan said. "I mean, here's a guy that's been coming all the way across the country. Division II last year, just goes to show you when you got good stuff, there's no question about it. But, you know, he's extremely competitive, he's got a heart of a lion."
Lugo-Canchola's story in the orange and blue is just beginning. If we go back to the start, he recalled what was going through his head on the road.
"Just extremely grateful," he said. "I did a lot of reflecting, got a lot of time to reflect, and just kind of realized like everything happens for a reason and you put your head down and you move the right way, a lot of good things will happen in your life."
The opportunity is something Lugo-Canchola will not take for granted. But while representing UF with integrity and discipline, and exceeding expectations, the 23-year-old lefty is having fun with the support of teammates and staff.
"It means the world to me," he said. "This is my sixth year, got an awesome opportunity. And a lot of people dream about representing this logo, and when they get an opportunity and have a night like I had [against Stetson], it's all good positive vibes. And with the guys I'm surrounded with, it's just a ton of fun."
