2020 Florida Gators baseball team explained
| Mode: | baseball |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Team: | Florida Gators |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Division: | Eastern Division |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Coachrank: | 1 |
| Cbrank: | 1 |
| Record: | 16–1 |
| Conf Record: | 0–0 |
| Head Coach: | Kevin O'Sullivan |
| Hc Year: | 13th |
| Asst Coach1: | Craig Bell (13th year) |
| Asst Coach2: | Chuck Jeroloman (1st year) |
| Stadium: | Alfred A. McKethan Stadium |
The 2020 Florida Gators baseball team represented the University of Florida in the sport of baseball during the 2020 college baseball season. Florida competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Home games were played at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, in the final season at the ballpark. The team was coached by Kevin O'Sullivan in his thirteenth season as Florida's head coach. The Gators entered the season looking to return to the College World Series after an early regional exit in last year's Lubbock Regional.
The season was cut short in stages by March 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gators finished with a 16–1 record, tied for the best in the country, and ranked No. 1 in all major polls. A tightly contested road sweep of the Miami Hurricanes helped propel Florida to the top spot in the rankings. Not knowing at the time it would be their final game, the Gators saw their 11-game winning streak over Florida State come to an end in the last game played at McKethan Stadium.
Previous season
The Gators finished the 2019 season with a 34–26 record, compiling a 13–17 mark in the SEC.
2019 MLB draft
The Gators had five players drafted in the 2019 MLB draft.[1]
Players in bold are signees drafted from high school that will attend Florida.
Preseason
SEC media poll
The SEC media poll was released on February 6, 2020, with the Gators predicted to finish in second place in the Eastern Division.[2]
| Media poll (East) |
| 1 | Vanderbilt | 87 (9) |
| 2 | Florida | 77 (3) |
| 3 | Georgia | 76 (2) |
| 4 | Tennessee | 50 |
| 5 | South Carolina | 48 |
| 6 | Missouri | 32 |
| 7 | Kentucky | 22 | |
Personnel
Coaching staff
| 2020 Florida Gators coaching staff |
|---|
| Name | Position | Seasons at
Florida | Alma Mater |
|---|
| Head coach | 13 | Virginia (1991) |
| Craig Bell | Assistant coach | 12 | North Florida (1989) |
| Chuck Jeroloman | Assistant coach | 1 | Auburn (2005) |
| Lars Davis | Volunteer Assistant Coach | 6 | Illinois (2007) |
| Student Assistant Coach | 1 | Florida (2010) |
| Student Assistant Coach | 1 | Florida (2013) | |
Schedule
| Legend |
|---|
| | Florida win |
| | Florida loss |
| | Postponement |
| Bold | Florida team member | |
| 2020 Florida Gators baseball game log |
|---|
| Regular season |
|---|
| February |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium
Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | SEC
Record |
|---|
| February 14 | | No. 4 | McKethan Stadium
Gainesville, FL | W 9–2 | T. Mace (1–0) | W. Martin (0–1) | None | 4,441 | 1–0 | – | | February 15 | Marshall | No. 4 | McKethan Stadium | W 10–0 | J. Leftwich (1–0) | B. Choban (0–1) | None | 4,453 | 2–0 | – | | February 16 | Marshall | No. 4 | McKethan Stadium | W 15–8 | C. Scott (1–0) | B. Callaly (0–1) | None | 3,903 | 3–0 | – | | February 18 | at | No. 2 | John Sessions Stadium
Jacksonville, FL | W 13–3 | N. Ficarrotta (1–0) | M. Cassala (0–2) | None | 1,063 | 4–0 | – | | February 19 | Jacksonville | No. 2 | McKethan Stadium | W 4–310 | N. Pogue (1–0) | C. Mauloni (0–1) | None | 3,300 | 5–0 | – | | February 21 | at No. 1 Miami (FL)
Rivalry | No. 2 | Alex Rodriguez Park
Coral Gables, FL | W 2–111 | B. Specht (1–0) | D. Federman (0–1) | N. Pogue (1) | 4,046 | 6–0 | – | | February 22 | at No. 1 Miami (FL)
Rivalry | No. 2 | Alex Rodriguez Park | W 7–410 | B. Specht (2–0) | A. McFarlane (1–1) | None | 4,172 | 7–0 | – | | February 23 | at No. 1 Miami (FL)
Rivalry | No. 2 | Alex Rodriguez Park | W 5–3 | H. Barco (1–0) | S. Cecconi (1–1) | R. Cabarcas (1) | 3,554 | 8–0 | – | | February 25 | | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | Postponed (rain) Makeup: Unscheduled before season was terminated[4] | | February 26 | at | No. 1 | Conrad Park
DeLand, FL | Postponed (rain) Makeup: March 18[5] | | February 28 | | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 3–2 | T. Mace (2–0) | L. Johnson (0–1) | B. Specht (1) | 3,377 | 9–0 | – | | February 29 | Troy | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 10–7 | D. Luethje (1–0) | D. Wilder (0–1) | B. Specht (2) | 4,140 | 10–0 | – | |
|
| March |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium
Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | SEC
Record |
|---|
| March 1 | Troy | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 7–1 | H. Barco (2–0) | T. Ellis (0–1) | None | 4,001 | 11–0 | – | | March 3 | | No. 1 | FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches
West Palm Beach, FL | W 7–3 | D. Luethje (2–0) | M. DeGusipe (0–1) | None | 1,984 | 12–0 | – | | March 4 | Florida A&M | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 5–0 | T. Nesbitt (1–0) | K. Coleman (1–1) | None | 2,684 | 13–0 | – | | March 6 | | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 9–1 | T. Mace (3–0) | C. Sullivan (1–2) | None | 3,594 | 14–0 | – | | March 7 | South Florida | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 15–5 | J. Leftwich (2–0) | J. Jasiak (1–2) | None | 4,538 | 15–0 | – | | March 8 | South Florida | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 2–1 | C. Scott (2–0) | O. Kerkering (0–1) | B. Specht (3) | 3,978 | 16–0 | – | | March 10 | No. 15 Florida State
Rivalry | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | L 0–2 | A. Velez (1–0) | N. Pogue (1–1) | P. Messick (1) | 5,276 | 16–1 | – | | March 13 | | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[6] | | March 14 | No. 3 Georgia | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | March 15 | No. 3 Georgia | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | March 17 | Jacksonville | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | March 18 | at Stetson | | Conrad Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)[7] | | March 20 | | | Kentucky Proud Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | March 21 | at Kentucky | | Kentucky Proud Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | March 22 | at Kentucky | | Kentucky Proud Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | March 24 | vs. Florida State
Rivalry | | Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | March 27 | | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | March 28 | Texas A&M | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | March 29 | Texas A&M | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | March 31 | Stetson | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | |
|
| April |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium
Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | SEC
Record |
|---|
| April 2 | | | Baum–Walker Stadium
Fayetteville, AR | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 3 | at Arkansas | | Baum–Walker Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 4 | at Arkansas | | Baum–Walker Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 7 | | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 9 | | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 10 | Missouri | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 11 | Missouri | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 14 | at Florida State
Rivalry | | Dick Howser Stadium
Tallahassee, FL | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 17 | | | Lindsey Nelson Stadium
Knoxville, TN | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 18 | at Tennessee | | Lindsey Nelson Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 19 | at Tennessee | | Lindsey Nelson Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 21 | Florida Atlantic | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 24 | | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 25 | Ole Miss | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | April 26 | Ole Miss | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | |
|
| May |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium
Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | SEC
Record |
|---|
| May 1 | | | Plainsman Park
Auburn, AL | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | May 2 | at Auburn | | Plainsman Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | May 3 | at Auburn | | Plainsman Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | May 5 | | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | May 8 | | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | May 9 | Vanderbilt | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | May 10 | Vanderbilt | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | May 14 | | | Founders Park
Columbia, SC | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | May 15 | at South Carolina | | Founders Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | | May 16 | at South Carolina | | Founders Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | |
| |
Schedule Source:[8] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.
Rankings
See main article: 2020 NCAA Division I baseball rankings.
2020 MLB draft
The Gators did not have anyone selected in the 2020 MLB draft.
Notes and References
- Web site: MLB Amateur Draft Picks who came from.
- Web site: Vanderbilt picked to win 2020 SEC Baseball Championship.
- Web site: Official Baseball Roster. Florida Gators. June 9, 2020.
- Web site: Florida-Florida A&M Game Postponed . Dirlam . Zach . February 25, 2020 . floridagators.com . . February 25, 2020.
- Web site: Florida-Stetson Midweek Game Rescheduled . Dirlam . Zach . February 26, 2020 . floridagators.com . . February 26, 2020.
- Web site: COVID-19 Updates . floridagators.com . . March 13, 2020.
- Web site: Stetson, ASUN Cancel Athletics Events . gohatters.com . . March 17, 2020.
- https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/schedule/2020 floridagators.com
