Florida Baseball 2024 Position Preview: Outfielders
The final group to discuss in our 2024 Florida baseball season preview are the outfielders.
The group lacks the kind of star power Gator Nation has grown used to with players like Jud Fabian and Wyatt Langford roaming centerfield, but the stage is set for another Florida legend to be born.
Kevin O’Sullivan has a talented group of returning players to turn to, but some new faces should see the field as well.
Let’s take a look at Florida’s outfielders for the 2024 campaign.
Starting Left Field: No. 6 Tyler Shelnut
Stats:
Year | PA | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | BB% | K% | wRC+ |
2023 | 202 | .277 | .371 | .474 | 7 | 28 | 11.4 | 24.3 | 106 |
Tyler Shelnut should be the most consistent outfielder on Florida’s roster this season. He ended the 2023 campaign as a lineup regular for the Gators, transitioning from the infield to outfield after transferring over from Sante Fe College (JUCO).
Shelnut showed off some power, blasting seven home runs and slugging .474 last year, but he wasn’t in the lineup consistently enough to put up serious numbers. As the presumed starting left fielder in Gainesville this year, he should be able to cross the 10-homer and 50-RBI mark.
Defensively, Shelnut is far from the team’s best fielder, but he’s developed his route-running enough to no longer be considered a liability out there. If the glove starts to regress, Shelnut could end up in right, but it’s hard to see anyone else in left field for the Gators this year.
Starting Centerfielder: No. 11 Michael Robertson
Stats:
Year | PA | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | BB% | K% | wRC+ |
2023 | 228 | .231 | .360 | .280 | 1 | 19 | 14.4 | 20.6 | 73 |
Michael Robertson has the speed and range to play centerfield in the SEC, but he finished last season as a defensive replacement for Florida thanks to his struggles at the plate.
Robertson has a good eye and patient approach, but a .231 average isn’t going to cut it anywhere. At his worst, Robertson went on a 2-for-35 stretch to end the year, ultimately moving to the bench. The Gators are hoping Robertson will take a step forward this year and take over the everyday centerfield spot.
Starting Right Field: No. 2 Ty Evans
Stats:
Year | PA | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | BB% | K% | wRC+ |
2022 | 114 | .242 | .301 | .465 | 5 | 16 | 7.0 | 29.8 | 83 |
2023 | 179 | .239 | .302 | .485 | 9 | 43 | 5.0 | 23.5 | 89 |
Total | 293 | .240 | .301 | .477 | 14 | 59 | 5.8 | 25.9 | 87 |
Ty Evans went through his share of ups and downs in 2023, but he went on a tear in Omaha that has many excited for his junior year with Florida.
Evans’ numbers over the past two years tell his story. His bat has remained consistent, averaging around the .240 mark and reaching base about 30.1% of the time. He’s gained some power, nearly doubling his home run total from two years ago in 2023, and Evans’ slugging percentage is inching closer to the .500 mark.
While Evans’ strikeout rate dropped from a steep 29.8% to 23.5% in just a year, his walk rate fell from 7.0% to 5.0% as well.
Unfortunately, Evans took a ball off his hand during an intrasquad game. He has a hairline fracture and is taking a few weeks off to heal. He could be back by SEC play, though.
Fourth Outfielder: No. 50 Jaylen Guy
Stats:
Year | PA | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | BB% | K% | wRC+ |
2019 | 248 | .257 | .351 | .320 | 1 | 14 | 5.2 | 22.2 | 84 |
2020 | 63 | .245 | .344 | .377 | 1 | 5 | 4.8 | 22.2 | 100 |
2021 | 210 | .198 | .284 | .313 | 3 | 29 | 6.2 | 25.7 | 62 |
2023 | 199 | .309 | .359 | .434 | 2 | 25 | 4.5 | 12.1 | 96 |
Total | 720 | .253 | .333 | .356 | 7 | 73 | 5.3 | 20.4 | 77 |
With Evans likely out for the start of the season, Liberty transfer Jaylen Guy is set to slide into his spot, sort of. Guy will likely take over centerfield to start the season, with Robertson moving to left and Shelnut shifting over to right.
Guy had a breakout year with Liberty in 2023, batting .309 for the season. He also improved his eye, slashing his strikeout rate in half (25.7% to 12.1%)
If Robertson struggles, Guy could stay in center, allowing Shelnut to move back to left and a healthy Evans to take over in right. Regardless of how the outfield rotation plays out, expect Guy to be a major piece of Florida’s defense. He’ll also pinch-run for the Gators.
Reserves: No. 15 Landon Russell and No. 30 Ashton Wilson
We’ve already discussed Landon Russell, a sophomore JUCO transfer out of Gulf Coast State College. He played second base last year, but is versatile enough to fit wherever the team needs him to., including the outfield. Unfortunately, his season will start late thanks to a UCL injury in his right thumb. He’s expected to miss the next three months, at least.
The other reserve outfielder Florida has on the roster is Ashton Wilson. He can play everywhere on the diamond but pitcher and catcher, and D1Baseaball named him the Big South Preseason Freshman of the Year. Wilson will be used as a utility guy, for the most part.
The Freshmen: No. 24 Blake Brookins and No. 16 Hayden Yost
Of the two freshman outfielders on the roster, it’s Hayden Yost who stands out. Yost is rangy enough to start in centerfield for Florida, a position he’s likely to take over next year. But 2024 might be a learning year for Yost and fellow freshman Blake Brookins.
Both are likely to get their feet wet at some point this season, but likely as reserves.
Read more
Florida Baseball 2024 Position Preview: Infielders
Florida Baseball 2024 Position Preview: Starting Pitchers
Florida Baseball 2024 Position Preview: Relief Pitchers
Dooley’s Dozen: 12 things Kevin O’Sullivan said about 2024 Gators baseball
Florida sophomore ranked No. 5 second baseman by D1Baseball
Florida star Jac Caglianone ranked second-best 1B by D1Baseball
Florida ranked No. 4 by Baseball America to start 2024
Two Gators named Preseason All-Americans by D1Baseball
Florida baseball projected to win SEC East, Caglianone Preseason POTY
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