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Florida Gators land commitment from TCU catcher Karson Bowen

On3 imageby: Zach Abolverdi06/20/25ZachAbolverdi
Karson-Bowen-Florida-Gators
New Florida catcher Karson Bowen. (Photo by TCU Athletics)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators addressed a position of need on Friday, landing another player at catcher. The latest commitment for UF is TCU transfer Karson Bowen.

Bowen slashed .333/.425/.516 last season with four home runs and 28 RBI, earning second-team All-Big 12 Conference honors. He made 41 starts in 45 games played.

Bowen started 20 games at first base, 16 as the catcher and five as the designated hitter. He will be coming to Gainesville to play catcher, where UF has a major need.

Florida junior catcher Luke Heyman is 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, is one of four Gators competing in the MLB Draft Combine this week and could also declare. Donay led the team in slugging percentage (.646), triples (2) and home runs (18).

Bowen is the sixth transfer landed by the Gators, the second commit this week and the second addition at the catcher position. Florida landed JUCO catcher/DH AJ Malzone of Wabash Valley College in Illinois on June 5 and UF is still targeting other catchers.

The Gators have also added Jacksonville center fielder Jaden Bastian, Notre Dame RHP Ricky Reeth, Central Florida RHP Russell Sandefer and Hawaii pitcher Cooper Walls, who committed on Tuesday.

UF 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), as well as catchers Cole Bullen and Brock Clayton.

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