Florida is back at the Men’s College World Series for the second-straight season. However, this time the Gators are massive underdogs coming in as the only team without a national ranking attached to their name.
The postseason wasn’t always a sure thing for Florida down the stretch this season, and Gators’ two-way star Jac Caglianone has been a catalyst for their explosion in the postseason. Behind his bat, Florida has come alive since its early exit from the SEC Tournament last month.
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Now, they’re set to take on SEC foe Texas A&M in their opening contest in the Men’s College World Series.
“It’s easy to sit back and be in awe of his offensive numbers and the walks-to-strikeout ratio and how he has advanced on the mound,” Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “But the thing I keep saying over and over is how he’s been able to submerse himself into the team and not his own personal success, which has really allowed him to have the season he’s had.
“Tremendous leader. He’s one of the most likable guys in the locker room. He’s just — he’s stayed the course. Obviously, we wouldn’t be here without him.”
Caglianone will enter the World Series batting .411 on the year with 33 home runs, 79 runs scored and 68 RBIs. He ranks second nationally in home runs, fourth in slugging and sixth in batting average. The 6-foot-5, left-handed pitcher has also started 15 games this season and thrown 72.2 innings. He boasts a 5-2 record on the bump with a 4.71 ERA and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
Behind his efforts, the Gators are 6-1 in the NCAA Tournament and head into Omaha coming off a sweep against Clemson in the super regionals. Caglianone has tallied a dozen RBIs and five home runs through Florida’s seven games in the NCAA Tournament.
The Florida star’s performance on the plate has paid off in the NIL space as well. On3’s Pete Nakos recently reported that Caglianone became the first college baseball player to sign with Topps and Fanatics ahead of his inevitable jump to the MLB after his duties in Omaha are through.
As Caglianone pitched in the final super regionals matchup, Liam Peterson will get the start against the Aggies. The first pitch between the Gators and Texas A&M is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN.
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