Josh Tobias and Vickash Ramjit know they’ll see the field for Florida this season. They know they’ll be starting, too.
But they don’t know where on the diamond they’ll be lined up, and that’s fine with them.
Following the 2012 season, the Gators lost right fielder Preston Tucker and left fielder Daniel Pigott to graduation. Senior outfielder Tyler Thompson left the team earlier this month for personal reasons. Sophomore Justin Shafer is the only established outfielder remaining on the roster.
To fill out the lineup, Tobias, a sophomore who started 44 of 51 games at third base as a freshman, could play in the outfield along with Ramjit, a redshirt senior who started 21 games at first base and 12 in left field in 2012.
"Wherever they need me," Ramjit said. "I don’t have a preference. As long as our team is stable. If I’m in right, I’m in right. I’m fine with that."
Where Ramjit plays will primarily depend on the development of younger players at first base and in the outfield. Coach Kevin O’Sullivan mentioned freshmen Kevin Stypulkowski and Brady Roberson and redshirt sophomore Zack Powers as possible alternatives at first.
Conversely, Ramjit would play primarily first base if freshmen outfielders Christian Dicks and Harrison Bader earn playing time.
Tobias has taken most of his practice reps at third base but has also practiced in the outfield in case the depth after Shafer remains an issue during the season.
"I’m comfortable anywhere," Tobias said. "I’ve practiced outfield, third base, second base. So whichever they put me at, I’m comfortable there."
If Tobias is forced to play the outfield, O’Sullivan has Cody Dent and Zack Powers available to play third base. Dent, the team’s only senior besides Ramjit, started 21 games at third in both 2011 and 2012 and filled in last year when Tobias missed more than a month with a hand injury.
Powers also started 21 games at third base in 2011 and was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team, hitting .250 with seven RBIs. He missed all of the 2012 season recovering from shoulder surgery.
O’Sullivan was not caught off guard by losing three outfielders. He has made a point of recruiting players who are versatile defensively.
"You only have 27 scholarship players, and with the emphasis that we placed on the pitching side of things, you have position players that are multiple defenders," O’Sullivan said.
With the season set to begin on Feb. 15, O’Sullivan still has time to finalize his defense. No matter what he decides, Powers is confident it will work.
"All of our outfielders are extremely athletic, so it’s not going to be that big of a deal," Powers said of the inexperience in the outfield. "They have great coaching, athleticism, and the fact that they are here shows a lot."
Contact Josh Jurnovoy at jjurnovoy@alligator.org.
Josh Tobias throws the ball to first base during Florida’s 9-8 win against N.C. State in Game 2 of the NCAA Super Regional on June 10 at McKethan Stadium. Against Georgia on Friday, Tobias notched Florida's only RBI of the match on a ground-rule double.
