Gators fans should not be set on expecting one player in right field for UF - coach Kevin O'Sullivan certainly isn't.
Juniors Jonathan Pigott and Riley Cooper entered spring practice as the likely favorites for the starting job in right, but two freshmen have emerged as candidates for playing time.
Tyler Thompson and Daniel Pigott, Jonathan's younger brother, have impressed O'Sullivan enough that he expects them to compete right away.
"Obviously with the older guys, they are doing what we expected them to do at this point, but I'm really pleased with how the freshmen have been playing," O'Sullivan said.
The quality of at-bats they have had against the older pitchers in scrimmages have put them in the race.
O'Sullivan said Thompson has been swinging the bat as well as anyone else on the team, especially considering he is coming off ACL surgery.
While the two freshmen bring youth and excitement to the table, the older Pigott and Cooper offer their own positives.
Jonathan has the most experience out of the four players, as he started in 39 games last year and 27 as a freshman. Although he has seen the most action in games, he has struggled at the plate. Last season, he was last on the team out of the regular players with a .220 batting average.
Cooper, who also plays wide receiver for the UF football team, has shown glimpses of brilliance, most coming in the last week of practice as he grew acclimated to seeing live pitching again.
"He has been picking it up a lot the last couple of weeks," O'Sullivan said. "He shows flashes of being really good, and he shows sometimes he's really behind."
It could take most of the season to determine who will be the regular right fielder, but the Gators have sure things at the other two outfield spots with senior Avery Barnes in left and junior Matt den Dekker in center.
Barnes is coming off his best season as a Gator, having led the team in hits, runs, batting average and stolen bases in 2008.
As for den Dekker, he has been receiving most of the preseason hype for UF following his breakout year. He has been named to Baseball America's Preseason All-America Second Team and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-America Second Team. He was also named to the 2009 Wallace Watch List for the trophy awarded to the best player in college baseball, alongside teammates Patrick Keating and Josh Adams.
Starting the last two years has provided den Dekker and Barnes with the knowledge of what to expect from each other.
"Once you get comfortable with somebody and get used to them, you get a lot more trustworthy, and we have built that with each other," Barnes said.
O'Sullivan expects finding the third player to solidify the outfield to be a slow process and is not in a rush to name a starter.
"You don't have to have your lineup set when Game 1 starts," O'Sullivan said. "The goal is to try different options and different combinations to see what works."
