Gators Bullpen Outlook: Reliable Arms Emerging Before Final Stretch
As Florida moves toward the home stretch of the season, its bullpen picture is starting to become clearer.
The Gators have a core group of reliable relievers emerging, but a postseason run could require more than just the arms who have already earned trust.
Relievers such as Ernesto Lugo-Canchola, Luke McNeillie, Caden McDonald and Joshua Whritenour have helped give Florida a dependable late-inning foundation. Each has done it in different ways, whether through handling frequent appearances, racking up strikeouts, limiting free passes or closing out games.
Whritenour has grown into the closer role for the Gators, tallying a team-high seven saves. The redshirt freshman has struck out 36 batters in 23 1/3 innings while making 13 ninth-inning appearances on the season.
Lugo-Canchola, a left-hander, has been one of Florida’s most-used bullpen arms, leading the team with 20 appearances. McNeillie has added swing-and-miss value with 41 strikeouts in 29 innings, while McDonald has provided command, walking only five batters in 30 1/3 innings.
Florida pitching coach David Kopp said the Gators have the arms to build a dependable bullpen.
“I think we have a lot of arm talent in the bullpen,” Kopp said. “When guys are out of the bullpen consistently 95-plus, I think the firepower there is good.”
Kopp added that the separator is not just in the stuff. It is important for relievers to handle high-pressure situations that come with pitching late in games, and bouncing back from tough outcomes.
“You gotta be able to pitch with runners on base,” Kopp said. “I think that’s a trait you have to have. You are not always gonna come in with a clean inning.”
That has become especially important with Jackson Barberi currently out. Before pulling his oblique against Ole Miss, Barberi had been one of Florida’s most effective bullpen arms, posting a 2.00 ERA and holding opponents to just a .143 batting average in his sophomore season.
Kopp praised Barberi’s growth from last season to this season, pointing to both a physical and mental development.
“The growth from Jackson Barberi from last year to this year, he has matured physically and mentally,” Kopp said. “He was on his way to being an All-American. With Josh [Whritenour] closing, he’s not worried about his role, he just goes out there when you call his name and does his job.”
Barberi’s absence has mounted more pressure on Florida’s remaining bullpen arms to stay consistent. While the Gators have developed trusted options, the numbers also show some relievers are still trying to find steadier results.
Billy Barlow has logged a 6.75 ERA and 1.88 WHIP in 16 innings, while Jackson Hoyt has allowed 11 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings. Eli Blair has had a smaller sample size, but has hit six batters in 8 1/3 innings.
Senior and former Notre Dame transfer Ricky Reeth has been a wildcard so far. He has only appeared in nine outings this season due to missing time with a shoulder injury, but has tallied 16 strikeouts to just four walks in 16 2/3innings.
Those arms could still matter if Florida makes a postseason run. Tournament baseball can stretch a pitching staff quickly, creating opportunities for relievers who have not carried major roles during the regular season. Kopp said that could be especially important for Florida as the season moves closer to postseason play.
“There’s a group of about six to eight arms who haven’t thrown as much as they would have liked,” Kopp said. “Every year, we have one or two guys who emerge in the middle to end of the season. I would like to see one or two guys emerge and put together consistent performances where they could be counted on late in the season, whether it’s in the SEC Tournament or a regional.”
For Florida, that makes the final stretch as much about development as dependability. The Gators have several relievers who have already carved out trusted roles, but a deeper postseason run could depend on whether one or two more arms turn limited opportunities into reliable late-season innings.
The bullpen and the rest of Florida’s squad are back in action Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Condron Family Ballpark to begin a weekend series against Texas A&M.
Category: Gators Baseball
