‘Pitch With Passion’: Rich Dorman Brings Nation’s Best Pitching Blueprint to Florida
The 2026 NCAA Gainesville Regional proved to be the nail in the coffin for the struggling Florida pitching staff, which allowed 49 hits and 43 runs across four games, costing the Gators a chance to advance in the postseason.
The staff ended 2026 ranked No. 40 in ERA (4.61), so coach Kevin O’Sullivan brought in the leader of the nation’s top unit, Oregon State pitching coach Rich Dorman, to replace David Kopp.
Joining “Sportscene with Steve Russell” on WRUF on Wednesday, Dorman set the tone for his new staff.
“We’re going to pitch with passion,” Dorman said. “We’re going to care for each other. We’re going to win at a really high level, and we’re going to not be outworked in the weight room.”
The Beavers’ pitching staff led the country in ERA (3.22), total strikeouts (699), WHIP (1.14) and hits allowed per nine innings (6.94) last season.
Trey Morris and Zach Edwards played a role in OSU’s success on the mound and followed Dorman to Gainesville in the transfer portal. As a freshman in 2026, Morris led the Beavers in ERA (1.98), ranking second nationally, opposing batting average (.166) and mound appearances (16).
In 25 2/3 innings, Edwards held a 5.61 ERA, but improved throughout the season. In his first five games, he allowed eight earned runs across 2 2/3 innings before limiting batters to eight earned runs in the remaining 23 innings.
Upon his arrival, Dorman prioritized building connections with his new pitchers, a lesson his former pitching coordinator, Dave Wallace, pressed upon him.
“He goes, ‘They don’t care what you know until they know you care,’” Dorman said. “For me, I’ve always, always had that in my brain, and that’s kind of who I am as a person anyway.”
Florida returned 2026 SEC Pitcher of the Year Aidan King, who led the Gators in ERA (3.21). After Liam Peterson proved inconsistent on the mound, starting the season 1-2 with a 4.03 ERA across eight games, King took over the Friday starting role April 10 against Georgia. In 7 2/3 innings, he limited the Bulldogs to two runs and two hits, recording six strikeouts.
Two-way star Caden McDonald emerged late last season, earning a permanent spot in the lineup April 24 as designated hitter, reaching base in 18 of 20 games and launching a team-best nine home runs while posting a 3.42 ERA across 20 relief appearances.
Dorman also has Jackson Barberi and Joshua Whritenour at his disposal, who ranked No. 32 and No. 39, respectively, in Baseball America’s top-100 2027 MLB Draft prospects behind King, ranked No. 18.
The Gators pitching staff has room to grow, with only four Gators pitchers tallying below a 4.0 ERA in 2026, but Dorman comes ready to unlock their potential.
“There’s a lot of guys that are thirsty to be developed and get better and win a national championship on a roster,” Dorman said. “My favorite thing to do is create a team within a team, and I’m extremely excited to get with this group and go to work.”
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Baseball
