After coming up short in the Conway Regional, Florida baseball earned a jump start in the transfer portal. The portal opened June 2, one day after the Gators’ season ended, and it closed July 1. Over the two-month period, Florida added eight transfers, while seven players left the program.
After several of last year’s key players left the team for the 2025 MLB Draft, the Gators had a number of positional holes to fill. Drawing from across the state and country, Florida added three pitchers, three catchers, two infielders and an outfielder, hoping to bring the program back to the College World Series after its early exit in tournament play last year.
Florida catchers Luke Heyman and Brody Donay, shortstops Colby Shelton and Bobby Boser, left-handed pitcher Pierce Coppola and right-handed pitcher Jake Clemente were all selected in the draft.
After losing five pitchers to the portal and two to the draft, the Gators needed to add depth in the bullpen. The departures included right-handed pitchers Alex Philpott, Carson Montsdeoca and Felix Ong, as well as left-handed pitchers Niko Janssens and Jacob Gomberg.
Florida also lost catchers Cole Bullen and Brock Clayton, marking another positional need.
Former Notre Dame right-handed pitcher Ricky Reeth was the first addition Florida made. The fifth-year senior went 4-2 with a 4.31 ERA in 22 appearances in 2025 and recorded 43 strikeouts in 48 innings.
Former UCF right-handed-pitcher Russell Sandefer followed. The junior from Tampa recorded a 3.38 ERA in 18 appearances in 2025, ranking third-best for the Knights. In 50.2 innings, he recorded 49 strikeouts and surrendered 19 runs.
As a lifelong Gator fan, Sandefer was ready for the opportunity to join the team, he said.
“My first football game I ever went to was in 2013, Florida versus South Carolina,” he said. “So when I got the opportunity, I couldn’t turn it down.”
Before joining the Knights, Sandefer spent his freshman season at Saint Leo University, where he pitched 45.2 innings and struck out 39 batters. He finished with a 5-2 record and posted a 3.35 ERA.
“I want to bring a culture of just caring about the guy next to you and winning,” Sandefer said. “I think I’ll fit into that really well.”
The final pitcher added was former Hawaii right-hander Cooper Walls. The freshman logged 13 starts and a 3-3 record in 2025. He threw 45 strikeouts in 60.1 innings while posting a 3.73 ERA, all of which earned him the All-Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year in 2025.
With the departures of Heyman, Donay and Shelton, Florida needed to address the infield. In response, the Gators added three catchers and two infielders.
Former Wabash Valley College catcher AJ Malzone, Texas Christian catcher Karson Bowen and Lenoir-Rhyne catcher Cole Stanford will all have opportunities to work behind the plate during the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, former Columbia shortstop Sam Miller and former Ole Miss infielder Ethan Surowiec were added to UF’s middle infield.
Malzone joins the Gators with three years of eligibility remaining. As a freshman in 2025, he batted .372 while recording eight home runs and 32 RBI.
Despite his season ending early in May due to fractured ribs, Bowen put up four homers and 28 RBI with a .333 batting average in 2025. He was named to the 2025 second-team All-Big 12 Conference for his efforts.
“[Florida was] my No. 1 from the first day,” Bowen said. “They made it pretty easy on me, and I’m glad it all worked out.”
Bowen’s biggest goal this season is guiding the Gators back to the College World Series to compete for a national championship.
“I think anything short of that would be a disappointment,” he said.
Stanford excelled in his three seasons with Lenoir-Rhyne, finishing with 39 home runs and 135 RBI while batting .338. His 20 home runs in 2025 ranks third all-time in program history, and he was named to the All-South Atlantic Conference Third Team in 2024. Miller was named the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2025, recording 16 home runs and 57 RBI as a junior.
Surowiec brings versatility to the field, with experience at first base, third base, right field and shortstop. Despite having limited opportunity with the Rebels as a freshman (16 at bats), he flourished over the summer with the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods League. He won the league’s most valuable player award, batting .383 and leading with 17 home runs and 68 RBI.
Florida also added depth in the outfield, securing former Jacksonville outfielder Jaden Bastian. As a sophomore in 2025, he led the Atlantic Sun Conference with 36 stolen bases while also adding 11 home runs and 33 RBI. Bastian joins the Gators with two years of eligibility remaining.
Contact Adrian Carmona at acarmona@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @abcarmona04.
Adrian Carmona is a third-year journalism major and the Summer 2025 baseball reporter. In his spare time, he enjoys completing Sporcle quizzes and ranting about Miami sports.
