Jac Caglianone will start for Florida Gators vs FAMU
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The road to Omaha begins this Friday for the Florida Gators. Florida skipper Kevin O’Sullivan has tapped sophomore left-hander Jac Caglianone to start on Friday.
Caglianone has served as the Sunday starter for the Gators all season. He has compiled a 6-3 record with a 4.13 ERA and 74 strikeouts. He’s also holding opposing hitters to a .183 batting average. O’Sullivan is going with Caglianone on Friday instead of Friday night starter Brandon Sproat or Saturday starter Hurston Waldrep.
Coming off two of his best starts of the season, Caglianone surrendered four hits and six runs (two earned) in 1.2 innings against the Commodores. He also had a throwing error, which led to a run in the loss that eliminated Florida from the SEC Tournament. The decision to throw Caglianone on Friday was not one that was taken lightly or made in haste.
“It works both ways. This time of year, anything can happen. Anybody can run into the wrong pitcher at the wrong time. It’s really about looking at the big picture here and trying to put ourselves in a position to win a regional. These decisions are not easy to make at times. Sometimes you make decisions that go outside your thought process that you’ve done the whole year. But at the same time, we have to look at the whole picture.”
Florida played FAMU once earlier this season, a 17-7 win. Being a midweek contest, the Gators threw freshman Yoel Tejada and a group of relievers. FAMU ace Nolan Santos threw 113 pitches just last Sunday and is unlikely to start. Florida will go with Cagalinone and a fresh bullpen on Friday night.
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O’Sullivan will likely have a quick hook if Caglianone gets in trouble but the sophomore pitcher has performed well at home. Caglianone holds a 3.59 ERA at Condron Family Ballpark. He has been more comfortable throwing at home. Florida expects to get a good start from one of the best players in college baseball this Friday.
Jac Caglianone a finalist for the Jon Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award
Caglianone was named one of five finalists for the 2023 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year earlier this week.
The John Olerud Award is named for the former Washington State University standout. Olerud achieved success both as a first baseman and left-handed pitcher during the late 1980s. He was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. The award will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this summer.
