It took Austin Maddox three years to forget how to play third base.
And it took him just two days to relearn the position.
After starting the season splitting time between catcher and first base, Maddox could be making his fifth-straight start at the hot corner tonight when No. 8 Florida (18-5) takes on No. 4 FSU (19-4) at 7 in Jacksonville.
“It felt a little weird because I haven’t played there in so long,” Maddox said. “But I’m getting used to it.”
Usual third baseman Bryson Smith has not played since March 20, when he dislocated his finger against Mississippi State.
Needing a replacement, coach Kevin O’Sullivan asked Maddox to field ground balls the Monday after Smith’s injury. Maddox played third base for a short time as a ninth grader at Eagle’s View Academy, but his play as a catcher drew scouts’ attention so the position did not stick.
“To be honest with you, there was no hesitation at all when Bryson hurt his finger as to what we needed to do,” O’Sullivan said.
Last Wednesday, just two days after he began practicing third base, Maddox started against Florida Gulf Coast. In the first at-bat of the game, he fielded a grounder and gunned it to first to record the out.
During that sequence, Maddox flashed the cannon that made him a coveted recruit. He was once clocked at 94 mph as a pitcher, and his strong arm is an asset at third.
“If I can keep the ball in front of me, I’ve got a good enough arm where I can pick it up and throw (runners) out,” Maddox said.
Despite playing four games at the position, Maddox has rarely been tested so it is unclear if he can be UF’s long-term third baseman.
Maddox has recorded only five assists and already has an error. Moving to his left while tracking a ground ball Sunday, Maddox botched an attempt to scoop the ball and then could not locate it as it rested on the infield grass.
Maddox was able to recover, cleanly fielding two ground balls to help end the inning.
Already leading the Gators with seven home runs and batting average of .378, Maddox could be even more valuable as an everyday third baseman. He started the season splitting time between designated hitter and first base, and Florida was not getting much productivity out of its third baseman during that stretch.
Before dislocating his finger, Smith hit .255 and committed four errors in 16 games.
But with Maddox now at third, O’Sullivan can add his next-best batter to the lineup as DH. In Maddox’s first three games at third, the strategy was unsuccessful as four players combined to hit 1 for 10 out of the DH spot.
Then on Sunday, Tyler Thompson showed how much Maddox’s position change could help the Gators, going 3 for 5 as the DH and scoring two runs.
An extra bat could provide a boost to the UF’s offense, assuming Maddox can shore up his defense.
“I feel like I’ve been doing pretty well over there,” Maddox said. “I’m getting more comfortable every day. The more I play over there, the more comfortable I’m going to get.”
