Florida Gators baseball transfer class ranks No. 11
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As the college baseball season inches closer, D1Baseball.com has counted down the top 25 transfer portal classes from this year’s offseason. The Florida Gators didn’t have a huge transfer class but they landed some big names and came in ranked No. 11.
The class is led by Freshman All-American infielder Colby Shelton and Freshman All-ACC catcher Brody Donay. In total, Florida welcomed seven new players through the transfer portal. The rest of the class consists of, infielder Armando Albert (Florida Atlantic), catcher Tanner Garrison (Coastal Carolina), outfielder Jaylen Guy (Liberty), infielder/outfielder Landon Russell (Gulf Coast CC) and outfielder/infielder Ashton Wilson.
D1Baseball on the Gators transfer class
THE HEADLINERS: Quality over quantity. The Gators went big game hunting and came away with two of the best that the portal had to offer in Colby Shelton and Brody Donay. Donay opened eyes on a national level with his tools, athleticism and game power production (.476 SLG) in the Cape this past summer. Now standing 6-foot-6, 220 pounds he has outgrown the catching position, but profiles even better to his new home, right field, with both 80-grade arm strength and raw power. Donay’s results were up and down a bit this fall, but when he connects, it’s often really loud contact. He hit 12 home runs in 123 at-bats with the Hokies last season, which is a pace that would put him among the SEC’s best power hitters, but he’ll have to make more consistent contact after also striking out 42 times against ten walks. Another middle of the order power threat, Shelton batted .300 with 25 home runs last season for the Crimson Tide. He arrived in Gainesville a slimmed-down version of himself, which could not only make him a more well-rounded offensive threat, but also gives him a chance to take on a new challenge. After playing third base at Alabama last season, a position at which he had his fair share of struggles, he spent the fall at shortstop for the Gators, and the reviews were positive starting with sure hands and an accurate arm. He has positioned himself to become the everyday shortstop this spring and continues to move up lists for the 2024 MLB Draft.
CONTRIBUTORS: The Coastal Carolina to Florida catching pipeline continues with fifth-year senior Tanner Garrison. He’s the best defensive catcher on the roster and is probably going to catch quite a bit, whether as a full-time player if the Gators decide to go with a better defensive alignment or as a spot starter to spell last year’s full-time starter, Luke Heyman. Garrison is also no slouch offensively, particularly from a power standpoint. In 56 career starts at Coastal, he had 13 home runs. Additionally, Juco transfer Landon Russell has some pop at the plate and some speed on the bases. He could carve out a role at second base where he played last season at Gulf Coast State (Fla.), and he also has the arm strength and athleticism to fit almost anywhere on the diamond.
