Florida Gators honor eight on Senior Day at Condron Ballpark

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators will honor eight members of the baseball program on Sunday afternoon at Condron Ballpark. Florida has seven players and one student manager that will participate in the ceremony prior to their final regular season home game.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Kevin O’Sullivan said about the impact this group has had on the program. “You know my relationship with all those players. They all have a different story. Josh (Rivera) could have signed last year easily. He decided to come back. Brandon (Sproat) was drafted in the third round and turned down money. BT (Riopelle) is a great story out of the portal. They all have their own story and they all have their own way that they contributed and what they meant to this program.”

“I hope that we come out tomorrow with the same energy that we did the first two nights and send these guys off the way that they’re supposed to.”

Gators Honored on Senior Day

BT RIOPELLE – SR – Catcher

Having transferred to Florida prior to the 2021 season, Riopelle quickly established himself as a team leader. He wasted no time earning All-SEC First Team honors behind the plate in his debut season as a Gator, leading all SEC backstops with 15 homers, 55 RBI, and a .551 slugging percentage to go along with a .304 batting average. Across his two-year Florida career, BT has batted .284 while totaling 25 home runs, three triples, 18 doubles, 99 RBI, 80 runs, 11 steals, and a terrific .989 fielding percentage.

[Related: More than a game: BT Riopelle reflects as baseball career nears a conclusion]

JOSH RIVERA – JR* – Shortstop

Josh has been a mainstay in the Gators’ starting lineup since his freshman season. Across his four seasons, Rivera owns a .291 batting average with 190 career hits, 30 home runs, four triples, 26 doubles, 138 runs, 123 RBI, and 19 steals. Rivera has enjoyed a breakout season in 2023, setting career highs with a .376 batting average, 68 hits, 14 home runs, 55 runs scored and 56 RBI while starting 50 games – making him one of the front-runners for the Brooks Wallace Award for the nation’s top shortstop. As a key team leader, Rivera holds status as a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient and was named to the 2022 SEC Community Service Team.

BRANDON SPROAT – JR* – RHP

Across four seasons in Orange & Blue, Sproat has pitched in 50 games while making 31 starts for a total of 190 1/3 innings. With an 18-7 career record, the righty owns 201 strikeouts – having recorded his 200th this past Friday night. Last season, Sproat worked to a career-best 3.41 ERA, finishing with a 9-4 record and 82 strikeouts en route to All-South Region honors. Since taking over as Florida’s Friday night starter, Sproat has posted a 13-2 record while providing consistency in the UF rotation. Brandon graduated from UF in the spring with a degree in Food & Resource Economics.

NICK FICARROTTA – RS SO* – RHP

A go-to option out of the Gator bullpen, Ficarrotta has amassed 94.2 innings pitched over 48 appearances. During that time, Ficarrotta has posted a 5-0 record, 98 strikeouts, and a 4.09 ERA. Last year, he pitched a career-high 60 innings with a 3.90 ERA. That was highlighted by 6.1 shutout innings vs. Alabama in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals and has added another 31.1 frames of relief this season.

TYLER NESBITT – RS SO* – RHP

Florida, Nesbitt joined the UF pitching staff in 2020 and fired 11 2/3 scoreless innings with 17 strikeouts to earn Freshman All- American honors. All told, Nesbitt owns a 3.26 career ERA across 46 1/3 innings, making 34 appearances including six starts. Having graduated earlier this month with a degree in Sport Management, Tyler is 1-0 this season with a 3.26 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 19 1/3 frames.

TUCKER TALBOTT – RS SO* – OF

Talbott has been a key cog in the team culture since arriving on campus in the fall of 2019. Last season, Talbott batted a career-best .316, highlighted by base hits in each of his first-four career at-bats to lift Florida to a midweek victory over Stetson. Tucker has seen action in seven games this season, helping the Gators to a 37-12 record, and has maintained a 1.000 career fielding percentage.

RICHIE SCHIEKOFER – GR – OF

In his lone season as a Gator after transferring in from Rutgers — where he was a .330 hitter across three seasons – Schiekofer has played in 25 games while making six starts, totaling one home run, one double, and 12 runs scored. Most notably, he blasted a pinch-hit, two-run homer against Miami on March 3, helping power the Gators to a rivalry series win.

ANDREW BLARDONIS – STUDENT MANAGER

Andrew has served as a manager for the Florida Baseball program since the Fall of 2019, working countless hours assisting with equipment, field management, practice, travel, game day duties, and much more. He will graduate from UF this summer with a dual major in business administration and sports management.