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Florida Gators catcher enters the transfer portal

On3 imageby: Zach Abolverdi06/09/25ZachAbolverdi
Florida-Gators-Cole-Bullen
Florida catcher Cole Bullen. (Photo by Nicole Scharff/UAA Communications)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators have first their outgoing transfer at a position other than pitcher. Redshirt junior catcher Cole Bullen has entered the portal, Gators Online has learned.

Bullen did not make any appearances this season and has one year of eligibility left. He spent three years at the College of Central Florida before transferring to UF.

Catcher is one of the biggest needs for Florida with junior Luke Heyman expected to turn pro after earning All-SEC first team honors in 2025. Heyman had 13 homers, 44 RBI and 37 runs scored with a .998 fielding percentage and 11 runners caught stealing, which ranked third in the SEC.

Junior catcher Brody Donay, who replaced Heyman after his season-ending injury against Alabama, could also declare for the 2025 MLB Draft. Donay led the team in slugging percentage (.646), triples (2) and home runs (18), which was tied with Bobby Boser and ranked 10th in the SEC.

The Gators landed JUCO catcher/DH AJ Malzone of Wabash Valley College in Illinois on June 5. In 2025, he batted .347 and had 10 homers, 58 RBI and a .602 slugging percentage over 58 games.

On3’s Pete Nakos reports that Florida is a factor in the recruitment of Notre Dame catcher Carson Tinney. He is ranked On3’s No. 8 overall player in the college baseball transfer portal.

Tinney caught at Notre Dame for RHP Ricky Reeth, who committed UF on June 5. Reeth is one of two pitchers transferring to the Gators, along with RHP Russell Sandefer from UCF.

Florida has lost five pitchers to the portal in sophomores Jacob Gomberg (LHP) and Alex Philpott (RHP) and freshmen Carson Montsdeoca (RHP), Niko Janssens (LHP) and Felix Ong (RHP).

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