Florida baseball: Tracking the Gators in the transfer portal

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida baseball team completed one of its best seasons with 50 wins and a berth into the College World Series. At the same time, the spring transfer portal window is open and the staff is having to contend with that.

The Gators have had ten players enter the transfer portal as of July 17. They have also added five players, although one will not make it to campus this year.

The Gators have 12 pitchers signed for the 2023 signing class, Gators Online detailed them here. Only Steven Echavarria, the New Jersey Pitcher of the Year who was drafted 72nd overall by the Oakland Athletics, is expected to sign.

Florida baseball players in the transfer portal

Players added

Colby Shelton – INF – Alabama
Tanner Garrison – C – Coastal Carolina
Brody Donay – C – Virginia Tech
Kelly Austin – RHP – UCLA*

Analysis: The Gators got a commitment from UCLA right-hander Kelly Austin but the Bruin signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Astros. Brandon Neely will take on a weekend role as a starter. Austin was viewed as a player who would fill in at the back end of the bullpen and a potential starter if need be. Florida has a ton of arms coming in and could look to a freshman or younger player at the end of games.

With Salvy Alvarez and Rene Lastres leaving via the transfer portal and BT Riopelle exhausting his eligibility, the Gators were left with just one catcher on the roster. Luke Heyman has come a long way defensively and will likely start behind the dish — his bat will keep him in the lineup regardless of position. Still, Florida needed to add catchers and they cleaned up here.

Tanner Garrison is one of the best defensive catchers and pitch framers in the country. Brody Donay is a power bat and a large target at nearly 6-6 behind the plate. He throws and moves well as a catcher but his bat and his power will be something that stands out initially.

The crown jewel of the class, to this point, is Colby Shelton. Some accolades from Shelton last year.

• Freshman All-American – Collegiate Baseball News (2023)
• First Team Freshman All-American – D1Baseball.com (2023)
• Second Team Freshman All-American – Baseball America (2023)
• Second Team Freshman All-American – NCBWA (2023)
• Freshman All-SEC Team (2023)
• SEC Freshman of the Week (March 6, 2023)
• National Player of the Week – College Baseball Newspaper (March 6, 2023)
• Position Player of the Week – SEC Extra (March 6, 2023)
• Set the Alabama freshman single-season home run record with 25, a total that tied for the third-most in Crimson Tide single-season history
• Tied Charlie Condon of Georgia for the SEC single-season freshman home run record
• Led the Crimson Tide while tying for second in the SEC and seventh nationally in homers
• Finished tops on UA in slugging percentage at .729 to rank sixth in the conference
• Batted .300 (61-203) with 10 doubles and one triple to go with the 25 home runs
• Also contributed 51 RBI and 49 runs scored while adding 33 walks and 10 hit-by-pitch

The Gators will plan for Shelton to take over at shortstop for Josh Rivera. He can also play all four infield spots but, right now, will be slotted at shortstop.

The Gators will continue to look to add in the transfer portal. One name I think makes a lot of sense is two-way player Braden Montgomery from Stanford. Montgomery was the Pac 12 Freshman of the Year in 2022 and would bolster the Gators’ pitching staff as well as a bat to have in the outfield. He batted .336 with 17 home runs in 2023.

Players departed

Anthony Ursitti – RHP – Florida Gulf Coast University
Deric Fabian – SS – Auburn
Matthew Prevesk – OF – UCF
Tyler Nesbitt – RHP – UCF
Clete Hartzog – RHP – Troy
Yoel Tejada – RHP – FSU
Chris Arroyo – LHP – TBD
Salvy Alzarez – C – Florida Southwestern
Erik Blair – OF – TBD
Carsten Finnvold – LHP – UCF