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Three Florida Gators baseball players named Preseason All-Americans

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•01/14/24•

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Photo courtesy of UAA Communications

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Three Florida baseball players were honored as Preseason All-Americans by Perfect Game on Thursday in first baseman/left-hander Jac Caglianone, infielder Colby Shelton and right-hander Brandon Neely.
 
Also tabbed as PG’s Preseason Two-Way Player of the Year, Caglianone was the lone Gator to collect first-team status. Shelton was listed as a second-team infielder while Neely slotted in as a third-team reliever.
 
Thursday’s announcement represents the first career Preseason All-America honors for all three players.

The first team nod is a no-brainer for Caglianone, who bopped an NCAA-leading and program-record 33 homers last season while slashing .323/.389/.738. The Tampa, Fla. product also set the team record with 90 RBI and was the lone Gator to play in and start all 71 games as Florida made a deep run to the College World Series Finals. The southpaw also delivered a 7-4 record, 4.34 ERA, .190 batting average against and 87 strikeouts across 18 starts spanning 74 2/3 frames.
 
Transferring into Florida from Alabama this past offseason, Shelton figures to make an immediate impact in Orange & Blue after a Freshman All-American 2023 campaign that saw him bat .300/.419/.729 with 25 long balls. Shelton led the Crimson tide in homers, slugging and OPS (1.148) while also adding 10 doubles, 51 RBI and 49 runs scored. He is projected to serve as UF’s primary shortstop this spring.
 
As for Neely, the 2023 USA Collegiate National Team member adds another feather to his cap on the heels of a 2023 Second Team All-American and First Team All-SEC season. Transitioning to the bullpen for the betterment of the roster, the Seville, Fla. native made a team-high 34 appearances while delivering a 3.58 ERA. Neely led the SEC with 13 saves in 14 opportunities – a total that ranked sixth nationally. He also fanned 72 batters in 55 1/3 frames and held hitters to a .223 batting average.
 
The Gators open up the 2024 season with a three-game series against St. John’s spanning from Friday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 18 at Condron Family Ballpark.

2024 Florida Gators baseball schedule

DateOpponentLocation
February 16St. John’sGainesville
February 17St. John’sGainesville
February 18St. John’sGainesville
February 20North FloridaJacksonville
February 21North FloridaGainesville
February 23ColumbiaGainesville
February 24ColumbiaGainesville
February 25ColumbiaGainesville
February 27StetsonDeland
February 28Bethune-CookmanGainesville
March 1MiamiCoral Gables
March 2MiamiCoral Gables
March 3MiamiCoral Gables
March 5Florida AtlanticGainesville
March 6UCFGainesville
March 8St. Mary’sGainesville
March 9St. Mary’sGainesville
March 10St. Mary’sGainesville
March 12Florida StateGainesville
March 15Texas A&MGainesville
March 16Texas A&MGainesville
March 17Texas A&MGainesville
March 19JacksonvilleGainesville
March 22LSUBaton Rouge
March 23LSUBaton Rouge
March 24LSUBaton Rouge
March 26Florida StateJacksonville
March 29Mississippi StateGainesville
March 30Mississippi StateGainesville
March 31Mississippi StateGainesville
April 2FAMUGainesville
April 5MissouriColumbia
April 6MissouriColumbia
April 7MissouriColumbia
April 9Florida StateTallahassee
April 12South CarolinaGainesville
April 13South CarolinaGainesville
April 14South CarolinaGainesville
April 16JacksonvilleGainesville
April 19VanderbiltNashville
April 20VanderbiltNashville
April 21VanderbiltNashville
April 23StetsonGainesville
April 26ArkansasFayetteville
April 27ArkansasFayetteville
April 28ArkansasFayetteville
May 3TennesseeGainesville
May 4TennesseeGainesville
May 5TennesseeGainesville
May 7South FloridaGainesville
May 10KentuckyGainesville
May 11KentuckyGainesville
May 12KentuckyGainesville
May 16GeorgiaAthens
May 17GeorgiaAthens
May 18GeorgiaAthens
May 21-26SEC TOURNAMENTHOOVER


 

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