Florida outfielder Michael Robertson makes impressive catch at warning track to send Gators to CWS Final
Florida outfielder Michael Robertson was the hero on Wednesday evening for the Gators. With the Horned Frogs down to their final out of the game, TCU slugger Brayden Taylor blasted a ball to deep center field that traveled 407 feet. That sent Robertson running back to the center field warning track at Charles Schwab Field. Luckily for the Gators, the park in Omaha is extremely spacious and Robertson caught the ball at the warning track, right before slamming into the center field wall, winning the game for the Gators.
Check out the impressive play to win the game here.
With the catch, he sent the Florida Gators to the College World Series Final, as they defeated TCU 3-2.
The 2023 version of the College World Series has been full of classic games and Wednesday’s game between the Horned Frogs and Gators was no different. Florida is headed to the CWS Final for the fourth time in program history and for the first time since 2017.
In any other park, the deep shot by Taylor would have easily been a home run. The Creighton analytics team even noted that at the MLB level, balls similar to the one hit by Brayden Taylor are home runs 97% of the time, and they have a 1.000 batting average.
But that’s just yet another example of how incredibly spacious Charles Schwab Field is. With the win, the Gators advanced to the championship best of three series against either LSU or Wake Forest.
For more on his acrobatic grab, check out the article below from On3’s Andrew Graham.
Robertson discusses the web gem that sent Florida to the 2023 College World Series Final
Robertson came on to pinch run in the top of the ninth after TCU knotted the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. A Cade Kurland infield hit would score him and give Florida a 3-2 lead that it didn’t relinquish. And Robertson finished it off in centerfield for Florida with an acrobatic catch running back to the wall for the final out of the game.
“At that point, it’s do or die. I’m going to run through the wall if I have to. I knew I was getting close to the wall, had to get up. So luckily, got in the glove and I was able to squeeze it,” Robertson said of tracking down the final out.
Getting to make an impactful play in a tight game was not lost on the redshirt freshman, either.
“I mean it’s an unbelievable feeling. Any time you get to do something like that for your team, it fills my heart up. Seriously. I’m excited to move on and I think everybody’s really pumped. We’re excited to get going,” Robertson said.
So far, the Gators have won all three games they’ve played in Omaha by one run.
Robertson thinks it just goes to show how tight-knit the Florida squad is.
“It just goes to show how tight we are. Seriously, the chemistry is off the charts, being able to rally at times like that when it’s close and get the job done. It’s just a testament to who we are as a team.”
And of course, Robertson was the go-ahead and game-winning run on Wednesday, a job he did not take for granted.
“I just, I think just getting the chance to do that is pretty special. Like I said, I was trying to whatever I could to get in position to score that run. And my guys behind me really got their job done. And it worked out for us in the end for sure,” Robertson said.
And he had praise for Kurland, the freshman who stepped into the batters box and put the Gators up for good.
“He’s a fighter. I think we all are. He’s down in the count but being able to put the ball in play, make something happen, that’s huge for a freshman,” Robertson said.
On3’s Andrew Graham also contributed to this article.