Florida Gators Baseball given lowest preseason ranking since 2020

2024 was a wild season for Florida Baseball. The Gators came into the year with high expectations after finishing as runner-ups in 2023, nose-dived out of the top 25, made the NCAA Tournament by the skin of its teeth, and made a run all the way to the national semifinals.

If the Gators are going to make a return trip to Omaha in 2025, Florida is going to have to defy some preseason predictions.

Florida Baseball: Looking up

Perfect Game has released their preseason top 25 and they have pegged to Gators 11th in the country. This is the lowest Perfect Game has ranked the Gators to start a season since 2020, when Florida was ranked 13th but wound up going 16-0 and was ranked first before the season was canceled.

Because, you know, reasons.

In truth, Florida's low ranking by Gator standards is a reflection of going 28-27 in the regular season in 2024 and the fact that Jac Caglianone is gone to the MLB.

Ty Evans is the only returning member of the squad who hit over .300 in 2024. Colby Shelton is the only returning member who hit at least 20 home runs in 2024.

The Gators did add eight players via the transfer portal, headlined by Miami transfer Blake Cyr, Jacksonville transfer Justin Nadeau, and Stetson transfer Kyle Jones, all of whom have seasons north of .300 under their belt.

Florida will open their season on February 14 at home against Air Force. SEC play begins on March 14 against Tennessee. Ten SEC schools were ranked, including Texas A&M at number one.