PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT
29.
FLORIDA
(28-28, did not qualify for NCAA post-season play).
Conference/Projected Finish: Southeastern/7th (10-20, 11th in 2006).
Coach: Pat McMahon (202-113, 5 years).
First Game: Feb. 9 vs. Virginia Military.
OVERVIEW: The Gators will attempt to rebound from a disastrous 2006 season, when they slipped from 48-23, 20-10 and a second-place finish in the College World Series to 28-28, 10-20 and the second-worst record in the SEC. No players slipped more than senior 1B Matt LaPorta, who tumbled from .328-26-79 to .259-14-38, and senior OF Brian Leclerc, who fell from .277-15-64 to .262-3-23. Junior 3B Brandon McArthur (.262-2-20) is the only other returning regular, while junior RHP Bryan Augenstein (9-6, 3.07) is easily the most established arm on the pitching staff.
X-Factor: The ability of
Florida
to rebound into an SEC title contender rests almost squarely on the ability of LaPorta and Leclerc to return to their 2005 form and one or two young arms to stabilize the rotation behind Augenstein.
TOP FRESHMAN: Cole Figueroa, 2b. A ninth-round pick of the Blue Jays last June, Figueroa moves in at second for three-year regular Adam Davis (.295-6-37),
Florida
’s best all-around player the last two years. C Hampton Tignor, OFs Matt Dendekker and Jonathan Pigott, RHP Billy Bullock and LHP Kevin Chapman also are expected to play a lot as freshmen.
TOP SOPHOMORE: Cody Neer, c. Neer (.154-0-3), a big, strong, switch-hitting catcher, promises more offense behind the plate as he replaces defensive specialist Brian Jeroloman (.242-6-39).
TOP JUNIOR: Bryan Augenstein, rhp. A borderline first-round talent, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Augenstein generates 91-94 mph heat with his fastball. He struck out 98 in 111 innings a year ago and gets more than his share of ground-ball outs because of the movement he induces on the pitch.
TOP SENIOR: Matt LaPorta, 1b. A pulled oblique muscle that sidelined him for 13 games and the pressure of being the nation’s reigning home run king conspired to bring LaPorta down in 2006. He went from being an almost certain first-round pick in last year’s draft to a 14th-round afterthought. Healthy again and determined to make amends for a disappointing season, LaPorta hopes to restore his sophomore magic.