Whether it's incoming freshmen, junior college transfers or reinvented relievers, there's a whole lot of change in UF's pitching staff this season.
Senior Patrick Keating will provide a steady foundation as the team's ace and Friday-night starter, and junior Billy Bullock, who finished second on the Gators in innings pitched a year ago, will remain in the rotation.
But behind them a slew of newcomers will be competing for the remaining spots.
With sophomore Tommy Toledo out for the season after undergoing surgery on his right arm and Kyle Mullaney, the opening day starter of a year ago and Stephen Locke no longer with the team, coach Kevin O'Sullivan will rely heavily on freshmen to give UF a chance to be competitive in the deep Southeastern Conference.
"The bottom line is you got to pitch to win," O'Sullivan said. "If we're able to do that, and (we're) able to catch the ball, then you got a chance to win every time you go to the field."
UF opens the season when Louisville comes to McKethan Stadium this weekend, and a pair of left-handed freshmen will get the nod as the Saturday and Sunday starters.
Alex Panteliodis, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound hurler will start the season as the No. 2, and Nick Maronde, who was ranked 19th on Baseball America's list of the Top 100 high school prospects of 2008, will finish up the series against the Cardinals.
"Those two guys have earned their opportunity," O'Sullivan said. "Neither of those guys is starting because of who they are. They've earned every bit of what they're getting this weekend."
Maronde built a close relationship with O'Sullivan during the recruiting process when the lefty was a highly-touted prospect out of Lexington, Ky., and O'Sullivan was still with Clemson.
When O'Sullivan made the switch from the Purple and Orange to the Orange and Blue, so too did Maronde, who has impressed his teammates and coaches in the early going.
"We're lucky to have some guys where the learning curve isn't so steep," Keating said. "He can be as good as anybody."
Anthony DeSclafani is another freshman who has caught Keating's eye and will be competing for back-of-the-rotation starts.
In the bullpen, the Gators will rely on Lake City Community College transfer Jeff Barfield to close out games and junior Tony Davis to set him up.
Davis, another lefty, led the team in appearances last year with 34 but only threw 19.1 innings out of the pen.
O'Sullivan worked with him on changing his delivery from the three-quarter arm slot to over the top. Davis was used primarily as a lefty specialist last season, but with his new delivery, O'Sullivan sees an expanded role for Davis. The over-the-top motion has increased his velocity and makes it harder for right-handed hitters to pick up the ball.
"He's one of those guys you pull for because he's put in the work," O'Sullivan said. "Every time you've doubted him or said he may not pitch much here at Florida, he's proven you wrong, so those are the stories that make you feel good."
