2025 Fall Baseball Reset: Florida

The Florida Gators head into 2026 with one of Division I’s best pitching staffs, thanks to the retention of several big-time arms. And, the addition of three big bats from the transfer portal, coupled with the return of a possible 2027 first-rounder, could make for a very interesting year down in Gainesville.

The Returners

Over the past few seasons, the Gators have been a hotbed for producing first-rounders. At least one Gator between 2022-24 was taken in the first round of the MLB Draft. That wasn’t the case in 2025 but for 2026, the Gators could correct that trend.

Junior pitcher Liam Peterson is poised to be a first-rounder next July. Peterson, selected to the USA collegiate national team this past summer, posted a 12.5 K/9 (96 over 69.1 IP) last season for the Gators. It was a significant step forward for the righty, who showed a plus mid-to-high-90s fastball and slider in his freshman season but often got hurt both in and out of the zone in 2024.

Both Peterson and rising sophomore Aidan King, who struck out 79 over 73 innings and conceded just three home runs, are the headliners for a pitching staff that also includes other notables, including Luke McNeille and sophomore Jackson Barberi.

Barberi, one of the program’s best freshman commits from the 2024-25 summer, struck out 41 over 32 innings last year.

As for the bats, Ontario boy Brendan Lawson will enter his sophomore season with high expectations. Lawson hit .317 with 10 home runs as a freshman, although all but three of those came in non-conference play. Still, an impressive year nonetheless.

Lawson will be joined by Blake Cyr, the former Miami (FL) product, who will strike out and hasn’t been able to replicate his strong numbers from three years ago since 2023. That 2023 season saw Cyr hit .305 (1.047 OPS) with 17 home runs. Since then, 16 home runs over 84 games.

Cyr hit well in the Cape this past summer, as the rising senior hit .308 with five extra-base hits across 11 games with Brewster.

Justin Nadeau, Hayden Yost, and Kyle Jones also return. Jones, who hit .355 for Stetson in 2024 before transferring, played only four games last year.

The Newcomers

Florida will have bodies to replace, even though their big stars from last year are back. Colby Shelton, Brody Donay, Pierce Coppola, Bobby Boser, Luke Heyman, and Jake Clemente all departed via the MLB Draft.

However, the transfer portal, coupled with new freshmen, will help fill out the roster.

Outfielder Jaden Bastian comes over from Jacksonville University. Bastian hit .302 (.985 OPS) with 11 home runs and 26 extra-base hits with the Dolphins last season.

He’s one of several big bats to come over via the portal. Arguably the biggest is former Columbia infielder Sam Miller, the reigning Ivy League Player of the Year. Miller hit .338 (1.013 OPS) with 16 home runs for the Lions, helping Columbia secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Miller played this past summer in the MLB Draft League, as he was eligible for the 2025 Draft. However, he slashed .212/.298/.273 (.571 OPS) with 24 strikeouts in 25 games for West Virginia.

Ethan Surowiec, who hit 17 home runs this past year in the Northwoods League, is also coming to Gainesville. Surowiec hit .375 with two home runs in 11 games with Ole Miss last season.

Nine freshmen are part of Florida’s 2025-26 roster, including Nic Partridge.

Summary

As is the case every year, the Florida Gators will have high expectations heading into 2026. Florida couldn’t make it past the Regionals last May in what was another turbulent regular season, despite what was an incredibly talented roster.

Florida will start the regular season without manager Kevin O’Sullivan, who was suspended for the school’s opening series against UAB in February. O’Sullivan was suspended for a viral rant in Conway after taking issue with site officials over the start time of his team’s game against East Carolina.