The No. 23 Florida Gators baseball team sits at 15-3 looking to SEC play this weekend.
Florida has seen its ups and downs so far, with a 13-game win streak combined with a surprising series loss to High Point this past weekend. However, a statement win against FSU Tuesday night has given the team momentum heading into conference competition.
Here are the Gators’ biggest standouts during the non-conference slate.
Brendan Lawson
Shortstop Brendan Lawson is off to an impressive start in his sophomore campaign. Starting all 18 games this season, Lawson has logged 24 hits with a team-high nine home runs and 26 RBIs.
Lawson’s best performance came in the team’s series-closing comeback win against High Point on Sunday, where he went 2-for-3 with two long balls, marking his first career multi-homer outing.
In the following game against in-state rival Florida State, Lawson smashed his ninth solo homer of the season in the sixth inning to help propel the Gators to the win.
The Toronto native has earned recognition for his play this year, already nabbing an SEC Player of the Week nod and being tabbed on Baseball America’s National Team of the Week on Monday.
Lawson’s performance behind the plate has been integral to Florida’s offense this year, as the Gators will continue to lean on his production heading into conference action.
Kyle Jones
The story of redshirt sophomore outfielder Kyle Jones has been one to remember this season. In 2025, in what would have been his true sophomore year after transferring from Stetson, he played just four games before being sidelined for the season with a shoulder injury.
But Jones has been electric in his comeback season. He has started 17 games at center field, batting .389 with 18 RBIs and two homers.
His best game so far in 2026 came against his former team on Feb. 17. Back at his old stomping grounds, Jones went 2-for-4, including a grand slam to push Florida to the midweek victory over the Hatters.
In addition, Jones has been productive at center field defensively, recording a 1.000 fielding percentage with 26 putouts. His impact in the outfield and production with the bat as Florida’s leadoff hitter have made him one of the Gators’ most valuable pieces.
“Getting out ahead early gives our pitchers some breathing room,” Jones said after the team’s win over Kennesaw State on Feb. 21. “Super thankful that I get to go out there every day and compete and play with my brothers.”
Ethan Surowiec
Sophomore infielder Ethan Surowiec has proven to be a tremendous transfer addition to Florida. Surowiec comes in from Ole Miss, where he saw limited time with the Rebels. But he has enjoyed a breakout season with the Gators.
Surowiec has started all 18 games for Florida across multiple positions in the infield, making his versatility extremely valuable for the defense. His at-bats have also been impressive, as he’s racked up 19 RBIs and three home runs.
Surowiec made a statement in game two to secure the series win against Miami on Feb. 28. In the top of the ninth, he launched a three-run homer to give the Gators a four-run lead to ice the weekend clincher.
But his most explosive outing of the season so far came against Kennesaw State on Feb. 20. He went 2-for-3 with 4 RBIs and two bombs, putting his offensive prowess on full display in the team’s 9-3 series opening victory.
“It was awesome, I prepared really hard and continue to prepare really hard,” Surowiec said after the win. “I’m ready for more to happen.”
Cash Strayer
Another newcomer that has made an immediate impact is freshman outfielder Cash Strayer. In his collegiate debut season, he has already started in 17 of Florida’s 18 games.
In his first career start in game two of the season-opening series against UAB, Strayer went 3-for-4 with a double. He launched his first collegiate home run on the same day, going yard in the Gators’ weekend-clinching win in game two of the doubleheader.
This year, Strayer is batting .300 with two home runs and 11 RBIs. Even as a first-year player, his patience and composure behind the plate have been impressive.
His second home run of the season came against Stetson on Feb. 18 to help complete the midweek series sweep. He was also named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week for his efforts.
“I always have the belief in myself that I deserve to play here,” Strayer said after his outing. “I was looking for a heater, and I got it. It felt great.”
Additionally, he has played clean defense in right field with a perfect fielding percentage and 31 putouts, which ranks fifth on the team.
Liam Peterson
It was a rough season debut for junior Preseason All-American pitcher Liam Peterson. In game one against UAB, he pitched three innings, issuing five walks and surrendering five runs with just three strikeouts.
But he has been lights-out in his following three starts. In 16 innings pitched since the season opener, he has logged 31 strikeouts and allowed just eight hits.
His best performance so far came in his second start of the year in the series opener against Kennesaw State. He threw five scoreless innings and recorded a season-high 12 strikeouts in the win.
“He really set the tone for us,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He bounced back, and I’m really pleased that he did.”
He followed that up with an eight-strikeout outing at Miami and fanned 11 Panthers in the game against High Point, as the Preseason SEC Pitcher of the Year continues to deal on the mound.
Ernesto Lugo-Canchola
This year, O’Sullivan has stressed his “circle of trust”, or essentially the pitchers he has placed his faith in to lead the bullpen. Senior transfer Ernesto Lugo-Canchola has earned his spot in the circle.
The former Division II player of the year has appeared in nine ballgames in relief, amassing 22 strikeouts and surrendering just nine hits in 14 innings with a 0.63 ERA, providing a stable arm when called upon.
His best performance on the mound so far came against Stetson on Feb. 18, where he threw three scoreless frames without surrendering a hit while also fanning three Hatters.
He was also integral in the team’s series-clinching win over Miami, where he struck out three ‘Canes without issuing a hit to help close the game for Florida.
“It means the world to me,” Lugo-Canchola said after the Stetson game. “A lot of people dream of representing this logo.”
Joshua Whritenour
Another arm that has earned its way into O’Sullivan’s circle of trust is freshman Joshua Whritenour.
Whritenour has performed valiantly as a closer, appearing in seven outings with two saves. He has a 0.00 ERA this year with 15 strikeouts while only issuing four hits and three walks across nine total innings of action.
He earned the first save of his young career against FAMU on March 4, logging two strikeouts in one full inning of play to secure the comeback victory.
But his best performance of the season came against in-state rival FSU on Tuesday, as he struck out the last five ‘Noles to ice the win.
“I've gotten to the point where now everything seems to be flowing for me,” Whritenour said after the victory. “I just take a deep breath, don't worry about who we're playing at that point when I get out there.”
Florida begins SEC play Friday as South Carolina visits Condron Ballpark. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
Contact Adrian Carmona at acarmona@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @abcarmona04.
Adrian is a senior journalism major and the baseball reporter for the Spring of 2026. He previously served as the soccer reporter in the fall of 2025. He enjoys playing Sporcle quizzes and ranting about South Florida sports.
