The Florida baseball team exceeded expectations in 2014.
After going two-and-out in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, the Gators weren’t seen as the fierce competitor that they once were.
Coaches projected Florida to finish third in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division with UF not receiving a single vote to take the conference crown.
But after starting the season 6-6, the Gators picked up the pace.
Freshman Logan Shore — who became Florida’s Friday night starter during UF’s ensuing series against Connecticut — became a rock on the mound. The right-handed pitcher from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, finished the year with a team-low 2.16 ERA and landed on the All-SEC first team, All-America third team and All-America freshman team while also being named the SEC Freshman of the Year and Baseball America National Freshman of the Year.
Sophomore outfielder Harrison Bader — who was suspended for 19 games following a scooter accident and DUI investigation — added a reliable bat to the lineup and an efficient arm in the outfield. Bader finished the season with a team-high .337 batting average and a career-high 24 RBIs. As a starter in center field, he committed just one fielding error in 137 attempts.
And junior Taylor Gushue became a cog down the stretch, hitting an SEC-best .384 in conference play and leading UF in home runs (six), doubles (16) and RBIs (49).
With this, the Gators finished the regular season with a 37-19 record and clinched the SEC regular-season crown by going 21-9 in conference play, finishing two games ahead of second-place Ole Miss.
But that’s as far as the accolades would go.
Florida lost 2-0 to LSU in the SEC Tournament Championship, recording just two hits in the finale in Hoover, Alabama.
The No. 2 seed Gators then proceeded to go two-and-out in the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year, losing 3-2 to College of Charleston and 5-2 to North Carolina at McKethan Stadium in two rain-heavy contests.
But this year, the Gators are hoping to avoid the early exits that have become all too common.
After winning its third SEC title in five years, Florida will be expected to pick up where it left off.
The Gators enter the 2015 season with the No. 3 rated recruiting class in the nation- UF’s third straight year with a top-3 class - and ranked No. 6 overall in Baseball America’s preseason poll.
Among its highly touted freshmen class is catcher JJ Schwarz, who was chosen in the 17th round in last June’s MLB draft. The Gators also added catcher Mike Rivera, outfielder Logan Browning, infielders Dalton Guthrie and Taylor Lane, and pitchers Taylor Lewis and Alex Faedo, all also selected in the draft.
The incoming class will look to replace some of Florida’s most productive players, most notably Gushue, who led Florida with 71 hits last season. Second baseman Casey Turgeon is also gone after being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. Turgeon was tied for second on the team with four home runs and 33 RBIs last year.
After playing in only 44 games last season, Bader will look to be a larger part of the Gators offense. Along with his team-high batting average and reliable fielding, the junior recorded 13 stolen bases in 2014.
Additionally, shortstop Richie Martin will look to improve on his successful sophomore campaign, where he led Florida in stolen bases (18), runs scored (49), and was placed on the watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award, given to the nation’s best shortstop.
From the bullpen, returning sophomore Shore will be accompanied by left-hander A.J. Puk, who finished with a 3.19 ERA and 46 strikeouts last season.
“We’ve got some good leadership from the older guys, coming off winning the SEC championship last year… and I like our recruiting class. The freshman have blended in real nicely with the older guys,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.
“We’re young, but we are talented.”
Florida will be tested early in its season with a three game homestand against No. 14 Miami in late February and a March 17 matchup with No. 11 Florida State.
UF won’t play another top-25 team until a three game series on April 10 against No. 21 South Carolina, followed closely by a road series with No. 20 Mississippi State.
Finally, Florida will face off against defending national champion Vanderbilt in a three game series beginning on May 7.
With its highest preseason ranking since 2012, the Gators will be expected to improve on last season’s progress and make a run in the postseason come June.
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Harrison Bader slides into home during Florida’s 14-5 win against South Carolina on April 13, 2013. Bader and the Gators will look to sweep Georgia in their final matchup Sunday at noon.
