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Florida Baseball: Even with finals on horizon, Gators reloaded for 2024

By Benjamin Henderson

Alabama hitter Colby Shelton (16) connects for a triple against Nicholls at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday June 2, 2023, in the first round of the NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament.
Alabama hitter Colby Shelton (16) connects for a triple against Nicholls at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday June 2, 2023, in the first round of the NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament. /
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We here at Hail Florida Hail have mused this before, but the calendar for Florida baseball this time of year is tricky. The Gators are two wins away from winning the national title, but because of how the transfer portal window in college baseball works, Florida also has to work the market now to acquire players to reload for next season.

After acquiring a starting pitcher and catcher last week, Kevin O’Sullivan has a power bat coming to Gainesville next season that might be able to match Jac Caglianone with his ability to hit it over the fence.

 Florida Baseball: Colby jacks

Colby Shelton is a third baseman for Alabama that was a freshman All-American this season. Perhaps looking to get out of Tuscaloosa after their coach got fired for betting on games, Shelton hit 25 home runs this season with a .300 batting average and an OPS of 1.148. Only Wyatt Langford has a better OPS for the Gators.

Shelton is originally from the Tampa area out of Bloomingdale High School, where he helped them win the state championship in 2021. In high school, the scouting service Perfect Game said of Shelton:

"“Repeats mechanics well, power projects moving forward, has a handle for the barrel with quickness to stroke, utilizes an all fields approach.”"

He was a shortstop in high school but played third base this season for the Crimson Tide. It’s unclear at the moment if the plan would be for him to move over to shortstop to replace Josh Rivera or if the Colby the Gators already have at third base, Colby Halter, would move over, given the range he has shown this postseason.

On paper, Florida baseball has the following infield for next season:

  • Jac Caglianone (.325 BA, 31 HRs)
  • Cade Kurland (.290 BA, 16 HRs)
  • Colby Shelton (.300 BA, 25 HRs)
  • Colby Halter (.253, 3 HRs, but a human vacuum with a glove in his hand)

Combined with Tyler Shelton and Luke Heyman also being able to play in the infield as needed, the 2024 edition of the Florida Gators will be just fine on the diamond.

Let’s just hope they get to raise a banner as 2023 National Champions.

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