Tyler Shelnut pens heartfelt goodbye message to Florida baseball

Tyler Shelnut‘s college baseball career came to an end in Omaha earlier this month. Spending two seasons in Gainesville, Shelnut made a strong impression on the diamond Gators while with the program.

Days after Florida‘s season came to a close at the 2024 Men’s College World Series at the hands of Texas A&M, Shelnut took to social media to formally say goodbye to the program where he made his name.

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“I can’t find the words that describe what wearing the orange and blue has meant to me,” Shelnut wrote on Instagram. “A childhood dream turned into reality. God blessed me beyond my wildest dreams when he gave me the opportunity to play for the greatest program in college baseball. To all Gator fans, my coaches, and my teammates, I love you all. Gator for Life.”

Shelnut, a Florida native that grew up an hour’s drive north of Gainesville, spent the first two seasons of his college career at Sante Fe CC as a two-way player.

He transferred into the Florida program ahead of the 2023 season where he became a regular starter in the Gators’ outfield. He went on to record 15 multi-hit games and eight multi-RBI performances as an SEC newcomer. That strong junior season was followed up with a .261 batting average while logging 16 home runs on 65 hits — all of which ranked second on the team behind superstar Jac Caglianone.

“The biggest thing I can say is that God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams,” Shelnut said after Florida’s season came to an end in Omaha. “I grew up being Gator fan my whole life, watching the Gators in Omaha. And being able to put on orange and blue every day and to do it in Omaha and play for a World Series is something I’m going to remember and tell my kids about for the rest of my life.”

As for Shelnut’s future, he’ll likely attempt to go pro and look ahead at the 2024 MLB Draft later this summer. He went undrafted in 2023 and opted to return to Florida this time last year. While he doesn’t have that same luxury this time around, he’ll look to make the most of any opportunity at the next level just as he did at Florida in 2023.

The 2024 MLB Draft will be held from July 14 through July 16 in Fort Worth, Texas as the Texas Rangers will be hosting All-Star festivities.