BT Riopelle reveals key to his hitting success

Florida catcher BT Riopelle is playing some of the best baseball of his life. It couldn’t be coming at a better time.

Heading into Omaha, Riopelle had been 3 of his last 10 with all three hits being home runs. He added another home run in the Gators’ first game of the Men’s College World Series versus Virginia, roping an eighth-inning opposite-field home run in Florida’s eventual 6-5 comeback victory.

“I’m just getting pitches over the plate and I guess I’m not missing them,” Riopelle said. “I don’t know how I’m doing that, honestly. But just kind of clicking for me, I think.”

In addition to his home run, Riopelle also hit a double in the second inning and later scored the first run of the game. He was also hit by a pitch in the ninth inning to load the bases. The next batter, Luke Heyman hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to secure the victory.

Riopelle is hitting .256 on the season with a .385 on-base percentage and .557 slugging percentage. He has hit 17 home runs and 11 doubles to go along with 66 RBI and 54 runs scored.

“All the times in my life where I’ve had the opportunity to do things that I’m doing right now and I didn’t do them has just prepared me for what I’m doing now,” Riopelle said. “It’s sticking to the approach and believing in the coaches and myself and the players around me. That gives me all the confidence in the world. It’s definitely a credit to everybody around me.”

Riopelle transferred from Coastal Carolina after the 2021 season and has been the starting catcher for Florida the past two seasons.

He told GatorsOnline near the end of the regular season that he was playing the season with the goal of lifting the national championship trophy at the end of the season with his teammates.

Each win takes him one step closer to that goal.

“I had the best year of my life last year,” Riopelle said in May. “I’m really just trying to be the best teammate I can be. Play toward a collective goal of winning a national championship this year. Everything I do is for them. Everything I do is for this program. I’m not worried about money anymore or worried about the draft. I’m just going out there and playing and trying to win for this team.”