Just one day before the season, Brian Johnson didn’t know if he was pitching this weekend — at least he acted like he didn’t.
Johnson, who won six games as a freshman last season, wasn’t sure of his place in the rotation because of Florida’s multitude of arms.
“(The pitchers) know,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said, clearing things up. “It’s just going to come from me.”
Oh. Well, maybe Johnson, who is starting today in the Gators’ season opener, did know. But the point still stands — UF’s depth has created a lot of tough decisions for O’Sullivan.
“I wouldn’t like to be in coach’s shoes,” Johnson said. “We have a lot of people that could go out there and be starters for a lot of teams. It’s a good thing to have. But you can’t foul up because somebody is going to step up and fill in the hole.”
This is exactly the reason Florida is starting the season atop the rankings.
After a year in which the Gators won the regular-season Southeastern Conference title and earned a trip to Omaha, Neb., they return seven of the of the nine players who were part of the batting order when UF kicked off last year’s College World Series.
Add in the presence of Kamm Washington, who was hitting .308 to begin his UF career, suffered a season-ending injury 27 games into his freshman year, and that impressive number looks even better. Washington is expected to start in center field tonight.
Did I mention the versatility Florida possesses?
It’s almost like O’Sullivan makes it a prerequisite for UF players to line up at more than one position.
Austin Maddox, who came to Gainesville as a catcher, played third base last season and is expected to see time at first this year. Oh, and in a practice this week, he was on the mound striking out batters with 93-94 mph heat.
Then there’s Johnson. Not only is he Florida’s Friday night starting pitcher, he also plays first base and designated hitter, and he finished his freshman season with four home runs and a .405 average in 84 at-bats.
That’s only the Gators’ hitting depth. Their pitching staff is even scarier.
Alex Panteliodis — you know, the guy who trotted to the mound with a 3.51 ERA and a team-leading 11 wins and 82 strikeouts last season as UF’s Friday night starter— did not even make the weekend rotation to begin the year.
Instead, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft, Karsten Whitson, will take his spot and make his first collegiate start Sunday.
Naturally the bullpen is stacked, too. It features Tommy Toledo, Nick Maronde, Steven Rodriguez and Greg Larson — all pitchers who O’Sullivan is comfortable using to close out games.
“It’s almost like having a bunch of pieces of a puzzle on a table, and you’re just trying to piece it all together,” O’Sullivan said.
He will begin the process of figuring that puzzle out tonight, so that it can look as beautiful as ever come June.
