Taylor Gushue almost hit the lights at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables last season in just his ninth collegiate game. Instead, the freshman settled for an awe-inspiring solo homer.
He also homered on the first pitch he saw in the season opener against then-No. 16 Cal State Fullerton. In all, Gushue started 28 games at first base, six at designated hitter and five at catcher in 2012.
He may be young, but that hasn’t stopped Gushue.
“The few times I was able to interview him after games, the guy didn’t act like he was a 17 or 18-year-old,” Perfect Game Managing Editor Kendall Rogers said. “That is a kind of a consistent trait they look for in catchers.”
Now with Mr. Consistency in Mike Zunino gone, Gushue takes over for the Seattle Mariners catching prospect, who won nearly every national award in 2012.
If Florida aims to earn its fourth-straight Omaha appearance, Gushue needs to fill Big Z’s shoes — at and behind the plate.
Zunino led Florida in home runs and OPS last season. He controlled a pitching staff for three years that featured 12 future MLB draft picks.
Florida has two proven starting pitchers leading an otherwise young staff that Gushue will manage.
He succeeded at the plate when he first came to Florida.
Gushue, who skipped his senior high school season at Boca Raton Calvary Christian High, earned Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week honors twice in his first month of college baseball.
Then a .143 batting average in SEC play saw him lose his everyday starting spot.
“I don’t think there was anything wrong with his swing,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He’s a high school senior facing the best amateur talent in the country on a very talented team. He’s certainly, I’m sure, learned a few things. It’s a learning curve. You can’t get to the top of the mountain without having some struggles.”
Gushue had a murderer’s row of hitters to learn from his freshman year.
Last year’s lineup was downright scary.
This year, well, it’s a little early to tell.
Let’s hope Gushue took some notes, because he needs to be a major run producer this season.
Florida loses 68.6 percent of its RBIs and its top-four on-base-percentage players from a year ago.
Senior Vickash Ramjit, sophomore Casey Turgeon and Gushue return as the only hitters with a slugging percentage more than .350.
The Gators will depend on Gushue that much more.
“I’m really pleased where he’s at,” O’Sullivan said. “Defensively, he’s come light years. He’s going to have to hit in the middle of our order. He’s certainly capable. We recruited him for a reason. He came here early. He made a huge commitment to us, our school and our program. It’s his time to go, and we’re certainly comfortable with him.”
How Gushue progresses at and behind the plate may determine how far the Gators go in 2013.
Contact Adam Pincus at apincus@alligator.org.
Sophomore Taylor Gushue bats during Florida’s 8-3 win against Florida Gulf Coast on March 10 at McKethan Stadium. The Gators will turn to Gushue to fill the void left by Mike Zunino.
