2023 Baseball Season Preview: Second Basemen

Florida didn’t lose its second baseman from 2022, but he did move to a different position, freeing up a spot for some new faces to compete over.

Last year, Colby Halter held things down at second for most of the year but shifted to third base when Deric Fabian was benched. Right fielder Sterlin Thompson moved into the infield and held down second for the remainder of the year.

Over the offseason, Kevin O’Sullivan added infielder Dale Thomas through the transfer portal and got true freshman Cade Kurland a year early after reclassification. Both have looked sharp since joining the team, but there’s also Fabian to consider.

Much like first base, Florida might be figuring out who its starting second baseman is on a day-by-day basis. O’Sullivan has a lot of talent to manage, and the best answer might be to keep shuffling the players until something sticks.

Here’s a look at Florida’s options at second base.

Potential Opening Day Starter: No. 1 Dale Thomas

AP Photo/Ben McKeown

Height: 5-10

Class: Junior

B/T: R/R

Hometown: De Leon Springs, Florida

High School (Previous Univ.): Bishop Moore (Coastal Carolina)

Thomas played 52 games at third base, five at second base and two at designated hitter a year ago for Coastal Carolina. If he can’t play his primary position this year, then he should fight for a share of the starting second base job at Florida this year.

He’s started most of the preseason scrimmages at second along with Kurland, so Kevin O’Sullivan might end up using both guys. The Gators’ skipper mentioned Thomas a few times during his first media availability of the preseason on Monday, pointing to his improved power numbers a season ago and defensive prowess.

His seniority might get him the starting nod over Kurland to begin the season, but this is another deep position that should see multiple players get significant playing time at.

Potential Starter: No. 4 Cade Kurland

Credit: David Rosenberg

Height: 5-11

Class: Freshman

B/T: R/R

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

High School (Previous Univ.): Berkeley Prep

Gators Wire got an early look at Kurland during his state finals run with the Berkeley Prep Buccaneers back in May. At the time, it was clear that he didn’t need to spend another year with the program and was already prepared for the next level.

He hit for monster power and set the school record in hits, runs, RBI, stolen bases and home runs before reclassifying and joining the Gators a year early. It’s unsurprising to see him receive some early praise from Kevin O’Sullivan and be in the conversation for a starting job.

“It’s good to have depth and we’ve got a lot of questions, but they’re good questions to be answered,” O’Sullivan said Monday. “You’ve got Cade Kurland, who graduated high school a whole year early. He’s had a really good fall. He’s supposed to be a senior in high school right now and he’s doing really well for us. (He) played really good last night, swings the bat.”

Kurland is getting starting looks at second base in Florida’s preseason scrimmages and is competing for some starts in the regular season. Thomas might get the nod early on because of his college experience, but it might be tough to Kurland off the field once he gets on it.

Don’t be surprised if he’s Florida’s everyday second baseman at some point this season.

Another Starting Option: No. 23 Deric Fabian

Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union

Height: 6-3

Class: Sophomore

B/T: R/R

Hometown: Ocala, Florida

High School (Previous Univ.): North Marion

Deric Fabian is going to wind up on a ton of these position previews simply because he can play all four infield positions and as a bat that Florida is going to want to keep in the lineup… until it doesn’t.

Fabian struggled at times his freshman year at the plate and finished the season batting .218 with 43 strikeouts. The coaching staff is expecting him to take big steps forward and he has one of the best bats on the team this preseason, but all of that still needs to be proven in a competitive game.

Sully refuses to call Fabian a platoon option, but the truth is he’ll fit into the lineup wherever possible because. The left side of the infield is pretty locked down, so it might be easy for him to find time at first base and second base early on.

“I don’t think you can say anything’s platoon,” O’Sullivan said regarding Fabian. “I think he’s put himself in a really good position where he can play all four infield positions and he’s swinging the bat good. Like I said, the idea is to get nine of your best hitters in there and try to figure out where you can play them defensively.”

Fabian’s fall was shortened thanks to an injury, but he seems ready to go in the preseason. He’s gotten a lot of work at shortstop as Josh Rivera’s understudy, but the right side of the infield might be easier to break into. He could even be the opening-day starter if Sully wants him on the field to kick off the year.

Reserve: No. 6 Tyler Shelnut

Height: 6-2

Class: Junior

B/T: R/R

Hometown: Lake City, Florida

High School (Previous Univ.): Fort White (Sante Fe CC)

[autotag]Tyler Shelnut[/autotag] seems to have found a home at first base with the Gators, but he spent most of last year at second base for Sante Fe College. With so many moving pieces in the infield, Florida could end up with Fabian and Caglianone at first base and move Shelnut back to second, especially if Kurland or Thomas are struggling.

Expect him to hang on to a starting job at first base, but there’s a world where he’s moved around to help the team. It’s similar to Sterlin Thompson being brought in from right field to second base last year. Otherwise, he’s just a depth piece at second and can focus on first.

Read more

Check out Gators Wire’s other position previews for the 2023 season:

• Catchers

• First Basemen

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Story originally appeared on Gators Wire