Jesuit’s McCullers picks Florida

Posted Feb 10, 2010 by Adam Adkins

Updated Feb 10, 2010 at 04:12 PM

Jesuit baseball player Lance McCullers may be just a sophomore, but he’s already decided where he’s going to play college baseball.

McCullers has verbally committed to the University of Florida, Tigers coach Richie Warren said Wednesday.

McCullers proved to be a force as a freshman with the Tigers. He was among the team’s top offensive performers, hitting .443 with nine doubles, five home runs and 28 RBIs. He also logged some time on the mound in relief and registered six saves in 10 appearances.

Those gaudy numbers helped McCullers earn National Freshman of the Year honors from MaxPreps.com.

“UF is the perfect fit for a guy like Lance,” Warren said. “He works extremeley hard both in the classroom and on the ball field and (Gators) coach (Kevin) O’Sullivan will make sure Lance will continue to do both.”

McCullers is the son of former major leaguer Lance McCullers, a former Tampa Catholic standout who pitched for the Padres, Yankees, Rangers and Tigers in a seven-year big-league career.