Creighton Baseball Analytics reveals stat about final out in Florida vs. TCU

With his Horned Frogs trailing 3-2 on Wednesday evening with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Florida Gators, TCU slugger Brayden Taylor blasted the ball about as good as he possibly could have. Taylor launched the deep shot to center field 407 feet, which would have been a home run in nearly every other park in America. But not the super spacious Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.

The ball was caught at the warning track by Florida outfielder Michael Robertson and the Gators officially advanced to the 2023 CWS Final. Following the game, the Creighton Baseball Analytics team revealed that the ball hit by Taylor would have been a home run in 97 percent of the baseball stadiums across America. Not only that, but it would also have been a hit 1.000 of the time.

Check out the tweet below with an excellent diagram from Creighton Baseball Analytics.

Well… this may not help the mood of TCU fans much.

At the MLB level, balls similar to the one hit by Brayden Taylor are HRs 97% of the time, and have a 1.000 batting average. It was a flyout this afternoon to end the Horned Frogs' season.#MCWS #CWS #Gators #OmaFrogs pic.twitter.com/rSWk7zQvKV

— Creighton Baseball Analytics Team (@CreightonBAT) June 21, 2023

The flyout, unfortunately, ended the Horned Frogs’ season. Even if it would have been a home run in any other park, it was still an impressive grab from Florida outfielder Michael Robertson to win the game. But that’s just yet another example of how incredibly spacious Charles Schwab Field is. With the win, the Gators advanced to the championship best of three series against either LSU or Wake Forest.

The 2023 version of the College World Series has been full of classic games and Wednesday’s game between the Horned Frogs and Gators was no different. Florida is headed to the CWS Final for the fourth time in program history and for the first time since 2017.

For more on his acrobatic grab, check out the article below from On3’s Andrew Graham.

Robertson discusses the web gem that sent Florida to the 2023 College World Series Final

Robertson came on to pinch run in the top of the ninth after TCU knotted the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. A Cade Kurland infield hit would score him and give Florida a 3-2 lead that it didn’t relinquish. And Robertson finished it off in centerfield for Florida with an acrobatic catch running back to the wall for the final out of the game.

“At that point, it’s do or die. I’m going to run through the wall if I have to. I knew I was getting close to the wall, had to get up. So luckily, got in the glove and I was able to squeeze it,” Robertson said of tracking down the final out.

Getting to make an impactful play in a tight game was not lost on the redshirt freshman, either.

“I mean it’s an unbelievable feeling. Any time you get to do something like that for your team, it fills my heart up. Seriously. I’m excited to move on and I think everybody’s really pumped. We’re excited to get going,” Robertson said.

So far, the Gators have won all three games they’ve played in Omaha by one run.

Robertson thinks it just goes to show how tight-knit the Florida squad is.

“It just goes to show how tight we are. Seriously, the chemistry is off the charts, being able to rally at times like that when it’s close and get the job done. It’s just a testament to who we are as a team.”

And of course, Robertson was the go-ahead and game-winning run on Wednesday, a job he did not take for granted.

“I just, I think just getting the chance to do that is pretty special. Like I said, I was trying to whatever I could to get in position to score that run. And my guys behind me really got their job done. And it worked out for us in the end for sure,” Robertson said.

And he had praise for Kurland, the freshman who stepped into the batters box and put the Gators up for good.

“He’s a fighter. I think we all are. He’s down in the count but being able to put the ball in play, make something happen, that’s huge for a freshman,” Robertson said.

On3’s Andrew Graham also contributed to this article.