# 2020 Florida Gators baseball team

The 2020 Florida Gators baseball team represented the University of Florida in the sport of baseball during the 2020 college baseball season. Florida competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Home games were played at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, in the final season at the ballpark. The team was coached by Kevin O'Sullivan in his thirteenth season as Florida's head coach. The Gators entered the season looking to return to the College World Series after an early regional exit in last year's Lubbock Regional.
The season was cut short in stages by March 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gators finished with a 16–1 record, tied for the best in the country, and ranked No. 1 in all major polls. A tightly contested road sweep of the Miami Hurricanes helped propel Florida to the top spot in the rankings. Not knowing at the time it would be their final game, the Gators saw their 11-game winning streak over Florida State come to an end in the last game played at McKethan Stadium.

## Previous season

The Gators finished the 2019 season with a 34–26 record, compiling a 13–17 mark in the SEC.

### 2019 MLB draft

The Gators had five players drafted in the 2019 MLB draft.
| Player | Position | Round | Overall | MLB Team |
| Brady McConnell | Shortstop | 2 | 44 | Kansas City Royals |
| Tyler Dyson | Pitcher | 5 | 153 | Washington Nationals |
| Wil Dalton | Outield | 8 | 257 | Boston Red Sox |
| Nelson Maldonado | Outfield | 21 | 642 | Chicago Cubs |
| Hunter Barco | Pitcher | 24 | 718 | New York Mets |
| Feleipe Franks | Pitcher | 31 | 947 | Boston Red Sox |
| Tyler Nesbitt | Pitcher | 32 | 969 | Colorado Rockies |
Players in bold are signees drafted from high school that will attend Florida.

## Preseason
### SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on February 6, 2020, with the Gators predicted to finish in second place in the Eastern Division.
Media poll (East) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Vanderbilt | 87 (9) |
| 2 | Florida | 77 (3) |
| 3 | Georgia | 76 (2) |
| 4 | Tennessee | 50 |
| 5 | South Carolina | 48 |
| 6 | Missouri | 32 |
| 7 | Kentucky | 22 |

## Schedule

Legend :
| | Florida win |
| | Florida loss |
| | Postponement |
| Bold | Florida team member |
2020 Florida Gators baseball game log :
Regular season :
February :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | SEC Record |
| February 14 | Marshall | No. 4 | McKethan Stadium Gainesville, FL | W 9–2 | T. Mace (1–0) | W. Martin (0–1) | None | 4,441 | 1–0 | – |
| February 15 | Marshall | No. 4 | McKethan Stadium | W 10–0 | J. Leftwich (1–0) | B. Choban (0–1) | None | 4,453 | 2–0 | – |
| February 16 | Marshall | No. 4 | McKethan Stadium | W 15–8 | C. Scott (1–0) | B. Callaly (0–1) | None | 3,903 | 3–0 | – |
| February 18 | at Jacksonville | No. 2 | John Sessions Stadium Jacksonville, FL | W 13–3 | N. Ficarrotta (1–0) | M. Cassala (0–2) | None | 1,063 | 4–0 | – |
| February 19 | Jacksonville | No. 2 | McKethan Stadium | W 4–3$^{10}$ | N. Pogue (1–0) | C. Mauloni (0–1) | None | 3,300 | 5–0 | – |
| February 21 | at No. 1 Miami (FL) Rivalry | No. 2 | Alex Rodriguez Park Coral Gables, FL | W 2–1$^{11}$ | B. Specht (1–0) | D. Federman (0–1) | N. Pogue (1) | 4,046 | 6–0 | – |
| February 22 | at No. 1 Miami (FL) Rivalry | No. 2 | Alex Rodriguez Park | W 7–4$^{10}$ | B. Specht (2–0) | A. McFarlane (1–1) | None | 4,172 | 7–0 | – |
| February 23 | at No. 1 Miami (FL) Rivalry | No. 2 | Alex Rodriguez Park | W 5–3 | H. Barco (1–0) | S. Cecconi (1–1) | R. Cabarcas (1) | 3,554 | 8–0 | – |
| February 25 | Florida A&M | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | Postponed (rain) Makeup: Unscheduled before season was terminated | Postponed (rain) Makeup: Unscheduled before season was terminated | Postponed (rain) Makeup: Unscheduled before season was terminated | Postponed (rain) Makeup: Unscheduled before season was terminated | Postponed (rain) Makeup: Unscheduled before season was terminated | Postponed (rain) Makeup: Unscheduled before season was terminated | Postponed (rain) Makeup: Unscheduled before season was terminated |
| February 26 | at Stetson | No. 1 | Conrad Park DeLand, FL | Postponed (rain) Makeup: March 18 | Postponed (rain) Makeup: March 18 | Postponed (rain) Makeup: March 18 | Postponed (rain) Makeup: March 18 | Postponed (rain) Makeup: March 18 | Postponed (rain) Makeup: March 18 | Postponed (rain) Makeup: March 18 |
| February 28 | Troy | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 3–2 | T. Mace (2–0) | L. Johnson (0–1) | B. Specht (1) | 3,377 | 9–0 | – |
| February 29 | Troy | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 10–7 | D. Luethje (1–0) | D. Wilder (0–1) | B. Specht (2) | 4,140 | 10–0 | – |
March :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | SEC Record |
| March 1 | Troy | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 7–1 | H. Barco (2–0) | T. Ellis (0–1) | None | 4,001 | 11–0 | – |
| March 3 | vs. Florida Atlantic | No. 1 | FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches West Palm Beach, FL | W 7–3 | D. Luethje (2–0) | M. DeGusipe (0–1) | None | 1,984 | 12–0 | – |
| March 4 | Florida A&M | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 5–0 | T. Nesbitt (1–0) | K. Coleman (1–1) | None | 2,684 | 13–0 | – |
| March 6 | South Florida | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 9–1 | T. Mace (3–0) | C. Sullivan (1–2) | None | 3,594 | 14–0 | – |
| March 7 | South Florida | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 15–5 | J. Leftwich (2–0) | J. Jasiak (1–2) | None | 4,538 | 15–0 | – |
| March 8 | South Florida | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | W 2–1 | C. Scott (2–0) | O. Kerkering (0–1) | B. Specht (3) | 3,978 | 16–0 | – |
| March 10 | No. 15 Florida State Rivalry | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | L 0–2 | A. Velez (1–0) | N. Pogue (1–1) | P. Messick (1) | 5,276 | 16–1 | – |
| March 13 | No. 3 Georgia | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 14 | No. 3 Georgia | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 15 | No. 3 Georgia | No. 1 | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 17 | Jacksonville | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 18 | at Stetson | | Conrad Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 20 | at Kentucky | | Kentucky Proud Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 21 | at Kentucky | | Kentucky Proud Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 22 | at Kentucky | | Kentucky Proud Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 24 | vs. Florida State Rivalry | | Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 27 | Texas A&M | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 28 | Texas A&M | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 29 | Texas A&M | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 31 | Stetson | | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
April :
| Date | Opponent | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | SEC Record |
| April 2 | at Arkansas | Baum–Walker Stadium Fayetteville, AR | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 3 | at Arkansas | Baum–Walker Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 4 | at Arkansas | Baum–Walker Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 7 | North Florida | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 9 | Missouri | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 10 | Missouri | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 11 | Missouri | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 14 | at Florida State Rivalry | Dick Howser Stadium Tallahassee, FL | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 17 | at Tennessee | Lindsey Nelson Stadium Knoxville, TN | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 18 | at Tennessee | Lindsey Nelson Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 19 | at Tennessee | Lindsey Nelson Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 21 | Florida Atlantic | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 24 | Ole Miss | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 25 | Ole Miss | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| April 26 | Ole Miss | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
May :
| Date | Opponent | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | SEC Record |
| May 1 | at Auburn | Plainsman Park Auburn, AL | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| May 2 | at Auburn | Plainsman Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| May 3 | at Auburn | Plainsman Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| May 5 | Bethune–Cookman | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| May 8 | Vanderbilt | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| May 9 | Vanderbilt | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| May 10 | Vanderbilt | McKethan Stadium | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| May 14 | at South Carolina | Founders Park Columbia, SC | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| May 15 | at South Carolina | Founders Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| May 16 | at South Carolina | Founders Park | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
    Schedule Source:
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
| Coaches' | 10 | 10* | 10* | 1 (26) | 1 (28) | 1 (28) |
| Baseball America | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1* |
| Collegiate Baseball^ | 14 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| NCBWA† | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| D1Baseball | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1* |
^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season. † NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season. * A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

## 2020 MLB draft

The Gators did not have anyone selected in the 2020 MLB draft.