The Gators have already seen significant movement in the transfer portal as they begin constructing their roster for the 2027 season. Florida has added two key transfers while several players, including longtime starter Cade Kurland, have elected to continue their careers elsewhere.
The biggest addition for the Gators is rising junior catcher Jon Embury from Florida Gulf Coast. The Port Charlotte native arrives in Gainesville after earning Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year honors during a standout sophomore campaign.
Embury batted .364 with 17 home runs and a 1.084 OPS while hitting in the two-hole for the Eagles. With senior catchers Karson Bowen and Cole Stanford exhausting their eligibility, Embury is expected to fill a major need behind the plate and is expected to slot into the middle of Florida's lineup.
The rising junior also brings defensive value. He threw out 20 of 36 attempted base stealers during his sophomore season and was named a semifinalist for the Buster Posey Award, presented annually to the nation's top catcher.
Florida also strengthened its pitching staff by adding rising junior right-hander Maddox McDougall from Jacksonville State.
McDougall primarily worked out of the bullpen in 2026, posting a 2.76 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 49 innings. The Wesley Chapel native made one start while appearing in 22 games in relief for the Gamecocks.
The right-hander features a low-90s fastball, a low-80s slider and an occasional changeup. He joins a talented Florida pitching staff that currently includes SEC Pitcher of the Year Aidan King, Russell Sandefer, Jackson Barberi and Joshua Whritenour.
While Florida added talent, several players have entered the transfer portal following the 2026 season.
The most notable departure is senior second baseman Cade Kurland, who announced his transfer to LSU for the 2027 season.
Kurland was a four-year starter for Florida and earned Freshman All-America honors in 2023 after batting .297 with 17 home runs and a .959 OPS while helping lead the Gators to the College World Series Finals. Despite being a senior, he retained one year of eligibility after receiving a medical redshirt due to injuries that limited him during the 2025 season.
The Tampa native finished his Florida career with 200 hits and 43 home runs.
His brother, freshman left-hander Rivers Kurland, also entered the portal. Rivers did not make an appearance for Florida in 2026 but arrived in Gainesville as the No. 15 left-handed pitching prospect in the 2025 recruiting class after posting a 0.42 ERA with 118 strikeouts during his senior year of high school.
Rising junior right-hander Cooper Walls also decided to test the waters of the portal. After just one season with the Gators, Walls transferred to Georgia.
Walls arrived at Florida after earning 2025 Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors at Hawaii. In 2026, he appeared in 17 games, including 10 starts, and posted a 7.17 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 37.2 innings.
Sophomore left-hander McCall Biemiller also entered the portal after not appearing in a game during the 2026 season. As a true freshman in 2025, the Tampa native recorded a 5.93 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.
Junior right-hander Matthew Jenkins is another pitcher departing Gainesville. Jenkins did not make an appearance in 2026 and last pitched in 2025, when he recorded a 9.64 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 14 innings. The Gainesville native began his collegiate career at Santa Fe College before transferring to Florida.
Freshman right-hander Cooper Moss was another pitcher who entered the portal after not seeing the field during his first season with the Gators. Moss was the No. 3 right-handed pitching prospect in Florida coming out of high school.
Rising redshirt junior Christian Rodriguez also entered the portal after appearing in just 1.1 innings during the 2026 season. Rodriguez pitched 23.2 innings in 2025, posting a 5.32 ERA with 31 strikeouts. The Coral Springs native attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where he earned MaxPreps National Player of the Year and Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Year honors in 2023.
Among position players, junior outfielder Blake Brookins entered the portal after appearing sparingly during his Florida career. Brookins did not see action in 2026 and totaled just 16 at-bats as a Gator. He was named to the 2025 SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Rising redshirt sophomore infielder Kolt Myers also elected to transfer. Myers did not play as a true freshman but saw increased opportunities while Cade Kurland was sidelined by injury. The St. Augustine native hit .185 with 15 hits in 32 games and provided steady defense during his time in Gainesville.
As the offseason continues, Florida's roster will look significantly different in 2027. The additions of Embury and McDougall address key needs, while a lengthy list of departures opens opportunities for new contributors to emerge.
The portal will remain open until June 30.
Contact Colton Veres at cveres@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @colton_veres.
Colton Veres is a senior sports journalism student in his first semester at The Alligator. He is currently the Summer 2026 baseball reporter. In his free time he enjoys watching the Red Sox and spending times with friends and loved ones.
