It might’ve been perceived as an insignificant moment when coach Kevin O’Sullivan made a call to the bullpen in the ninth inning of Florida’s win against Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday.
Entering the frame, the Gators were up 12-3 and were poised to open the season 3-0 by sweeping FGCU. O’Sullivan could’ve chosen to send out Jackson Kowar for his second inning of work after the freshman gave up two runs in the eighth.
But instead, O’Sullivan decided to call on Scott Moss to close out the series.
And while the remaining fans at McKethan Stadium might’ve thought it was just another call to the bullpen, for Moss, it was a call he'd been waiting two years for.
Moss didn’t make an appearance for the Gators in his first two seasons.
The redshirt sophomore had Tommy John Surgery before his freshman year, and it caused him to miss time.
Tonight, Moss will make his first career start at 7 in Game 2 of the Gators’ midweek series against Eastern Michigan at Lakeland’s Joker Marchant Stadium.
"I’m healthy for the first time since, what was it, my fall of my freshman year, so I mean I’m happy and ready to go finally," Moss said.
"I’ve been out for two years. I’ve watched these guys win SEC Championships, go to the College World Series, so it’s nice to finally get going and doing what I’m born to do basically."
O’Sullivan said Moss could’ve pitched toward the end of last year, but he decided against it so Moss could be healthy entering this year.
So when he got to toe the rubber on Sunday, Moss must have let out a sigh of relief that his time had finally come.
And now, he has pitching numbers to go along with his injury.
The left-hander faced four FGCU hitters and struck out the first two of them to clinch UF’s season-opening sweep on Friday.
And today, O’Sullivan will reward him for his determination to get back to the mound.
"I’m pleased," O’Sullivan said. "It’s been a long road for him, and he’s going to end on a really positive note here at Florida, and I’m really really excited about the direction he’s going and the fact that he’s going to get back out there."
Contact Luis Torres at ltorres@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII.
Scott Moss pitches during Florida's 12-3 win against Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 21, 2016 at McKethan Stadium.
