The preseason awards are starting to pour in for Florida’s baseball team.
Five Gators were named to Perfect Game’s 2016 Preseason All-American Teams, including three first-teamers: outfielder Buddy Reed and pitchers A.J. Puk and Logan Shore.
First baseman Peter Alonso and catcher/designated hitter JJ Schwarz garnered second-team honors.
UF’s five chosen players were second to only Louisville, which had six picked.
Reed, a 6-foot-4 switch-hitting junior, is coming off a 2015 season in which he hit .305 and led Florida in hits (86). The speedster also swiped 18 bases last season, good for second on the team.
One of the hardest throwing pitchers in the country, Puk struck out a team-best 104 batters and posted a 3.81 ERA through 78 innings pitched last year. The 6-foot-7 junior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, also held opponents to a .210 batting average, fourth best among Southeastern Conference pitchers.
As Florida’s ace, Shore compiled an 11-6 record in 112.1 innings pitched. The junior was consistent throughout the season, as his 2.72 ERA ranked sixth among SEC pitchers.
Schwarz could’ve just as easily been named to the first-team for his freshman season last year. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, native hit .332 and slugged 18 home runs and 73 RBI, fourth and third most in the nation, respectively.
Alonso, whose 2015 season was hindered early because of a foot injury, still produced well for the Gators. The junior hit .301 and tallied five homers and 32 RBI in just 39 games.
Follow Patrick Pinak on Twitter @pinakk12
UF's Buddy Reed slides home during Florida's NCAA Regional win against Florida A&M on May 29, 2015.
