The key to Preston Tucker’s move to right field has little to do with Preston Tucker.
Don’t get me wrong: The transition doesn’t work if he can’t play his new position. And after starting just seven games in the outfield last year, there is reason to doubt the move will go smoothly.
But even if the preseason All-American plays as well in right as he did at first base, the switch won’t necessarily be a success. The Gators need someone to fill Tucker’s void at first, and that’s the point of this shuffle.
Coach Kevin O’Sullivan is moving Tucker to a tougher position to squeeze more production out of his lineup. Florida led the Southeastern Conference in fielding percentage last season but finished eighth in the conference with a .297 team batting average.
Ideally, Tucker’s infield replacement will be his roommate, junior Ben McMahan.
“Dude, I moved out to the outfield so you could get some time at first,” McMahan said Tucker told him.
McMahan, who was recruited to Gainesville as a catcher, fell behind sophomore Mike Zunino on the depth chart in 2010 because his defense was not good enough. But McMahan flashed one of Florida’s best swings in limited action last season, hitting .325 in 80 plate appearances — good enough for fifth on the team.
He is also coming off a productive summer in the wood-bat Cape Cod League, where his .323 average was behind only Hawaii’s Kolten Wong, Arizona State’s John Ruettiger and Memphis’ Drew Martinez.
Wong and Ruettiger are both preseason All-Americans. Martinez returns to Memphis this year after getting drafted by the Mets last summer.
“We’re just trying to be creative and try to move some guys around and try to find a way to get [McMahan’s] bat in the lineup consistently,” O’Sullivan said. “He has swung the bat good, so we’re going to try to get him in as best as we can, as much as we can.”
O’Sullivan has plenty of other candidates to take Tucker’s old corner, including sophomores Austin Maddox and Brian Johnson. But the Gators need McMahan to step up.
If McMahan sticks at first, Maddox will return to third base, where he started 29 games last season. More importantly, O’Sullivan can use Johnson as UF’s designated hitter.
After posting a 1.089 OPS in 84 at-bats last year, Johnson should be in the lineup every day. He will probably start the season in the team’s weekend rotation, though, so O’Sullivan can’t put him in the field and risk an injury to his ace.
Essentially, McMahan would be replacing one of Florida’s corner outfielders, Daniel Pigott or Tyler Thompson. That duo combined to hit .285 in 295 at-bats last season.
Of course, O’Sullivan will not announce any starters until next week, when Florida opens its season against South Florida on Feb. 18.
He called first base “a work in progress,” adding fans will probably see Tucker at his old position a lot. But Tucker said two weeks ago that he hasn’t played an inning of first base since last season.
And O’Sullivan should keep it that way. Because, dude, Tucker moved out there so McMahan can play.
