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The Gators are returning a bevy of talent for their 2018 campaign. Among that talent is sophomore RHP Tyler Dyson. His late-season heroics during Florida’s 2017 National Championship run are hard to forget. This season, the Gators are expecting even more out of the Bradenton native.
Dyson will be getting the ball as the Gators No. 3 starter on Sundays. Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s hopes are high.
Dyson added that it’s nice to have a set role prior to the start of the season because it will allow him to get into a routine. However, he noted that his job hasn’t changed too much.
Down the stretch in 2017, O’Sullivan and the Gators coaching staff expanded Dyson’s role and he responded with incredible poise. Over 14.1 innings of postseason work he posted a miniscule 0.63 ERA. “Towards the end I got my shot and just ran with it,” Dyson said.
Offseason Points of Emphasis
This offseason Dyson has been working to perfect his change-up. In 2017, he primarily featured a lively two-seam fastball complimented by a slider. He knows that, if he is to have consistent success at the collegiate level or beyond, he needs to utilize three pitches effectively.
Dyson strayed away from the change-up last season, but now believes he can turn to the pitch in a variety of counts and situations. “I trust it now… It’s getting good, it’s getting competitive which is all you can ask for,” Dyson said.
The development of the secondary offspeed pitch wasn’t Dyson’s sole focus this offseason. His delivery out of the windup has also been a work in progress. A season ago, Dyson worked for the most part out of the stretch. “I knew that Sully wanted me to work on it [the windup] over the summer,” Dyson said. Now he believes it feels like a natural motion.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Tyler Dyson’s first start will be on Feb. 18 in the final game of the Gators’ season-opening series against the Siena Saints.
Opponents aren't going to enjoy facing the #Gators three-man rotation this spring…#Singer #Kowar #Dyson pic.twitter.com/47wNzbOocV
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) January 31, 2018
