Latest news with #FloridaGators
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida standout Jac Caglianone launches first two home runs of MLB career
Former Florida Gators slugger Jac Caglianone has been the hot talk among rising Major League Baseball prospects, and on Thursday night he reached one of the first of many milestones in his nacent professional career. The lefthanded first baseman, outfielder and designated hitter — as well as pitcher — slugged his first MLB home run against the Texas Rangers in Arlington. Caglianone's first dinger was a solo shot off a 95.5 mph two-seam fastball served up by southpaw Jacob Latz above the strike zone, which he sent 387 feet with an exit velocity of 106.5 mph into the stands; according to Statcast, the round-tripper was good enough to leave the park in 17 of 30 MLB parks. Cags grounded his next two times up, but in his fourth at-bat of the day, he went deep once again with another solo shot. This time, he slugged an 85.8 mph first-pitch slider from lefty Robert Garcia 439 feet thanks to a staggering 110.2 mph exit velocity — a towering shot that was out of the park in every single MLB venue this season. He finished the day 2-for-4 before being subbed out for John Rave in right field as a defensive replacement. For the 2025 campaign, Caglianone has played in 14 games, stringing together a .218/.232/.364 slashline along with a pair of doubles, the two newly-minted home runs, four runs batted in and 12 strikeouts against one walk. Both his Fangraphs and Baseball Reference WAR values are currently in the negative, but if his performance on Thursday night was any indication, his value should be positive sooner rather than later. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
15 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Nebraska defensive back commit flips to Florida Gators
Former Nebraska defensive back commit flips to Florida Gators Class of 2026 four-star corner CJ Bronaugh decommitted from the Nebraska football program on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, he committed to the Florida Gators. He made the announcement on social media. Bronaugh was the top commitment in the Huskers' 2026 class. The talented corner is ranked the No. 106 overall player in the 2026 class. He is the No. 14 overall corner in the class, and the No. 12 overall player in his class from the state of Florida per the On3 rankings. He originally committed to Nebraska on November 26, 2024. Now, he has a chance to be closer to home. He is currently the highest-rated commitment in the Gators' 2026 class. The 2026 recruiting class has five commitments and ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten recruiting rankings.. The program will look to class over the next couple of days, as things on the recruiting trail begin to heat up, and they may be able to gain some ground. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia Dealt Bad News on Highly Touted Star Before Final College Decision
Georgia Dealt Bad News on Highly Touted Star Before Final College Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. A highly touted defensive line prospect is set to make his final college decision on Saturday. The Georgia Bulldogs hosted that prospect for an official visit just a couple of weekends ago. Advertisement But, as per the latest reports, the Bulldogs aren't expected to land the prospect: four-star defensive lineman Vodney Cleveland. According to On3's recruiting prediction machine, Cleveland is very likely to commit to the Texas Longhorns. "Cleveland took an official visit to Georgia two weeks ago," On3's Jeremy Johnson wrote. "The Bulldogs made an impression, but the buzz is around Texas and Florida for the former Alabama commit." The RPM predicted a 93.5% chance of Cleveland committing to the Longhorns. Georgia Bulldogs football head coach Kirby Smart© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Cleveland was originally scheduled to visit the Miami Hurricanes this weekend. But on Monday, he announced canceling that visit and revealed his intentions to make his final college decision this Saturday. Advertisement Although On3 identified Texas as the overwhelming favorite to land Cleveland, the Longhorns have competition. The Florida Gators are the other top contender. As it stands with under two days remaining until Cleveland's final college announcement, Georgia is a significant underdog in the recruitment of the four-star defensive lineman. Based on the 247Sports Composite rankings, Cleveland is the No. 8 Alabama prospect and No. 18 defensive line recruit in the 2026 recruiting class. Overall, he is also the No. 141 player in the entire class. The 247Sports crystal ball prediction has Cleveland landing with the Longhorns. Advertisement Georgia has 18 commitments in the 2026 class. The 247Sports rankings have the Bulldogs' class rated as No. 4 for 2026. Related: Georgia Gets News on Coveted Star on Wednesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida, Miami Near Deal for Jacksonville Basketball Showdown
Florida, Miami Near Deal for Jacksonville Basketball Showdown originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes are working toward a neutral-site basketball game in Jacksonville, according to a recent update shared by the official page of the Florida Gators. Mar 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Miami (Fl) Hurricanes guard Divine Ugochukwu (99) with the ball in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The in-state rivalry hasn't been a regular fixture on the basketball calendar in recent years. That may soon change with both programs reportedly nearing an agreement to bring the matchup to a new location. No date or time has been confirmed yet. The post didn't offer official scheduling details, but fans quickly picked up on the significance. A game played outside of Gainesville or Coral Gables would be notable. Jacksonville offers a large venue and access to both fan bases. It's also a neutral middle point geographically. That adds a new layer to the atmosphere of the rivalry. Advertisement This would be one of the more high-profile non-conference matchups in the state for next season. Hurricanes, coming off multiple NCAA tournament appearances, remain a strong program. The Gators are looking to build on their recent momentum. The Gators have already generated buzz with recruiting wins and early roster developments. A matchup like this only boosts that momentum heading into the fall. For the Hurricanes, it's a chance to reinforce their success with a spotlight game. A win over the Gators would help further the program's statewide reach. Both teams look ready to lean in. The neutral site gives them a shot to reach more fans. It also brings fresh energy to a basketball rivalry that's usually overshadowed by football. This kind of setup isn't new. Programs often use it to build buzz. It works. Advertisement Related: Florida and Georgia Talents Dominate U.S. Army All-American Bowl East Roster Related: Miami Heat Confirm Another Jimmy Butler Blow This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida baseball alumnus Pete Alonso's MLB success surprised this expert
Florida baseball alumnus Pete Alonso's MLB success surprised this expert There is a sizeable handful of former Florida Gators currently playing for Major League Baseball teams, but perhaps the most well-known and best-performing of the bunch is New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Nicknamed the "Polar Bear," the Tampa, Florida, product played for the Orange and Blue from 2014 to 2016, just missing out on the 2017 national championship campaign by a year. Alonso was drafted in the second round of the 2016 MLB draft with the 64th overall pick by the Mets, but was only the fifth-highest selection among UF alumni in the draft. And that is where The Athletic's roundtable discussion regarding players who ended up being a much better pro than they thought, curated by Mitch Light and included four representatives from ESPN and one from D1Baseball. Mike Ferrin of ESPN chose Alonso as his pick. "I thought he was sort of an Ivan Melendez (Texas) type, a big power guy, then he was going to get to pro ball and he was going to really struggle. What I didn't understand was the guy really knew how to hit. I think even now, he still doesn't get appreciated for how good of a hitter he is. He knows how to use the middle of the field. He knows the situations that call for him to drive in a run. That wasn't readily apparent to me when he was at Florida," Ferrin notes. "He also wasn't the biggest star on those teams. He was a little bit further down on the list. And he wasn't the most dynamic presence. I had no idea he was going to be the player he is now. Testament to his work ethic and his intelligence. And he's also got way better as a defender." Pete Alonso's MLB career stats Since breaking into the big leagues with a Rookie of the Year award in 2019, Alonso has played in 920 total regular-season games over seven seasons, slashing .252/.343/.518 in 3,933 plate appearances with 164 doubles, eight triples, 243 home runs and 649 RBI, along with 535 runs scored. Stretching over 16 playoff appearances, the UF alumnus is slashing .278/.429/.574 for an insane 1.003 OPS with four homers, 10 runs scored and 10 runs batted in over 58 plate appearances. Alonso also has two Home Run Derby titles to his name — earned in 2019 and 2021 — in five tries and is the only currently active MLB player to have won multiple derbies. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
