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Report: Florida to unveil new name for Florida Ballpark

NS_headshot_clearbackgroundby:Nick Schultz•04/21/22•

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Florida is gearing up to unveil a big change to Florida Ballpark.

The Gators are re-naming the facility as Condron Ballpark in honor of former Florida walk-on Gary Condron, according to The Gainesville Sun’s Graham Hall. Condron, 67, is also the largest donor in Gators Boosters history.

Condron is the namesake of the Condron Indoor Practice Facility, home of the Gators football team. The UF alumnus’ name will now also be synonymous with the baseball stadium, and the university is planning to unveil the new name ahead of Friday’s game against No. 1 Tennessee.

Condron’s baseball career ended due to a torn rotator cuff, but he remained heavily involved with Florida Athletics as a donor. After graduation, Condron founded a construction firm called The Conlan Company and continued to give back to the university as the company grew. He also served as a head coach at the 2018 Orange and Blue Game.

Florida baseball is 23-14 overall this season, including 6-9 in SEC play. The Gators are gearing up to take on Tennessee for a three-game series this weekend in Gainesville. Game one starts Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET at what will soon be known as Condron Ballpark on the SEC Network.

Report: Florida makes pivotal decision on pitcher Hunter Barco

Florida pitcher Hunter Barco got some bad news Wednesday regarding his elbow injury.

Barco is being shut down “indefinitely” as he deals with discomfort in his elbow, according to D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers. Doctors will continue to evaluate him as the season goes on.

Barco ranks second on the Gators roster with a 2.50 ERA and has a 5-2 record in nine starts. His last appearance came on April 15 when he threw two innings against Vanderbilt, but he didn’t show signs of being hurt.

He’s also an MLB Draft hopeful, coming in at No. 7 in D1Baseball’s prospect rankings. Barco earned SEC Pitcher of the Week and National Player of the Week honors in February when he struck out 11 against Liberty. He’s also on the Golden Spikes Award Watch List and was a Preseason All-American.

Barco is also the No. 53-ranked prospect ahead of the MLB Draft, according to MLB Pipeline. It’s unclear how or if the injury will affect his stock ahead of June’s draft.