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Cade Kurland is entering his sophomore season for the Florida Gators baseball team. Starting for most of the year as a freshman on a team that played for the College World Series title, his performance was one he said he would have never expected.
Before Florida
In his three years attending Berkley Preparatory School in Tampa, his talent showed through record after record.
He was the all-time leader in hits (133), runs (126), RBIs (106), stolen bases (52) and home runs (18). He lead his team to the 2022 Class 3A State Championship and graduated a year early to attend Florida for the 2023 season.
The biggest adjustment from high school to SEC baseball was the speed, Kurland said.
Since playing at the college level is quicker than high school ball, he said trusting himself day in and day out played a huge component in making that adjustment.
The amount of college baseball games was more than he had ever played before.
The freshman played in 68 of Florida’s 71 games including 67 starts during the 2023 season.
Freshman Year
Despite having to learn how to adjust to the college level, Kurland had an phenomenal freshman season.
He launched 17 home runs, more than any UF second baseman in a single season in team history.
By the end of the season, he totaled 25 multi-hit games, 13 multi-RBI performances and posted a .960 fielding percentage across his 199 chances at second base.
Kurland said the best part of his first year was the commodities with his teammates.
Fall Season Preview
Gators baseball will hold three open practices and two intrasquad scrimmages this week. Moreover, the team face its first exhibition opponent Friday Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. against Georgia at 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville.
Florida returns 14 players from the 2023 NCAA Runner-Up squad and a group of 22 newcomers will bolster the 2024 roster.
Kurland said the returning players have the responsibility to set an example and be vocal leaders to incoming players.
With new pitchers coming into the program, Kurland said they are going to play a major role this year.
This year’s exhibition marks the third-straight year of fall competition between the Gators and Bulldogs. Florida looks to add its third victory in the series after coming out on top in 2019 and 2022.
