For the third time in UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s nine-year tenure, the Florida baseball team hauled in the nation’s top recruiting class.
Six Southeastern Conference schools landed inside the top 10 of the ranking, with Florida, South Carolina and Mississippi State securing the top-three spots.
The ranking, released by Collegiate Baseball on Tuesday, only takes into account players who are enrolled in school the Fall semester prior to the season and does not take into account recruits who signed professional contracts following the 2015 MLB Draft.
Six of Florida’s 13 incoming players were taken in June’s draft but opted to enroll in school instead. Highlighting the list are shortstop Jonathan India and pitcher Brady Singer.
India, the top-ranked middle infielder in the 2015 recruiting class and the No. 14 prospect overall out of the state of Florida, is expected to make an immediate impact for the Gators as they try to replace first-round draft pick Richie Martin.
Singer, a second-team high school All-American and the No. 17 right-handed pitching prospect in the 2015 recruiting class according to Perfect Game, looks to make an impact on a UF pitching staff that posted a 3.18 ERA and held opponents to a .232 batting average.
But with the Gators returning all four of its starters from last year’s College World Series team — Logan Shore, A.J. Puk, Alex Faedo and Dane Dunning — Singer will more than likely be slated to begin his UF career as a reliever. Florida begins its season on Feb. 19 with a three game series against Florida Gulf Coast at McKethan Stadium.
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UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan watches from outside the dugout during the Gators' 9-7 loss to Southern Miss. in game one of NCAA Super Regional play in McKethan stadium Saturday, June 6, 2009. O'Sullivan and the Gators were eliminated from the 2014 NCAA Tournament in the regional round on Saturday.
