Florida utility Caden McDonald (21) celebrates a home run during the 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship Gainesville Regional championship baseball game at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, May 31, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Florida utility Caden McDonald (21) celebrates a home run during the 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship Gainesville Regional championship baseball game at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, May 31, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Tracking where Florida baseball players, signees are playing summer baseball in 2026

Florida baseball players have now shifted focus to next season.

The Gators finished the year 41-21 and earned the No. 8 national seed, but fell short to Troy in the Gainesville Regional championship.

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Florida’s Aidan King, Jackson Barberi and Joshua Whritenour were invited to the Collegiate National Team Training Camp. For King, it’s the second straight summer that he received an invitation to the camp. The official roster will be named on July 5 at the conclusion of the training camp.

The camp will begin with three days of doubleheaders, for a combined six games, from June 27 to June 29, and will be split into two teams. Both squads will play three games apiece in Burlington, North Carolina, Danville, Virginia and Cary, North Carolina. Following the exhibition games, the teams will play a series in Fayetteville, North Carolina, from July 1-4.

Aidan King, who was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year, registered a 3.21 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 92 strikeouts and 19 walks in 16 starts. Barberi recorded a 3.13 ERA, 55 strikeouts, 17 walks and a 1.02 WHIP in 19 outings, while Whritenour posted a 5.40 ERA, 49 strikeouts, 14 walks and seven saves in 25 appearances. Notably, Barberi and Whritenour announced their intention to play in the Cape Cod League this summer.

Liam Peterson, Russell Sandefer, Luke McNeillie, Kyle Jones and Ethan Surowiec along with four of UF’s incoming high school signees will participate in the MLB Draft Combine.

Here’s a look at where remaining Florida baseball players are playing this summer.

Cape Cod League

Jon Emury, Hyannis Harbor Hawks

The Florida Gulf Coast transfer catcher was named the ASUN Player of the Year. Embury batted .364 and belted 13 doubles, 17 home runs and drove in 60 runs.

Ethan Surowiec, Bourne Braves

In his first season as a starter, the infielder hit .317, 12 home runs and led the Gators with 63 RBIs.

Jackson Hoyt, Wareham Gateman

The left-handed reliever saw minimal action as he finished the year with a 13.50 ERA, eight strikeouts and six walks in 7 1/3 innings.

Caden McDonald, Wareham Gateman

On the mound, two-way star recorded a 3.42 ERA, 48 strikeouts and eight walks in 20 appearances. At the plate, he hit .319, with nine doubles, nine home runs and 28 RBIs.

Hayden Yost, Wareham Gateman

The outfielder batted .262 with 10 home runs, all of which came in the last 27 games of the season.

Brendan Lawson, Brewster Whitecaps

The shortstop hit a team-high of 19 home runs, batted .312 and drove in 48 runs.

Schuyler Sandford, Brewster Whitecaps

The right-handed reliever posted a 4.95 ERA, 23 strikeouts and 12 walks in 20 innings of work.

Cash Strayer, Brewster White Caps

The outfielder, who missed significant time midseason due to a broken hand, hit .272, four home runs and 26 RBIs in 32 games.

Joshua Whritenour, Brewster Whitecaps

Jackson Barberi, Harwich Mariners

Valley League

Colton Schwarz, Strasburg Express

The infielder hit .226, four doubles and 10 RBIs in 23 games.

Florida Collegiate Summer League

Nic Partridge, DeLand Suns

Did not record any stats as a true freshman.

Cameron Hanes, Winter Park Diamond Dogs

Hanes is an incoming freshman pitcher.

Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Tracking where Florida baseball players, signees are playing summer baseball in 2026

Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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By Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network

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