UF baseball receives verbal commitment

Belleview High graduate Frank DeJiulio verbally committed to play baseball for the Florida Gators five weeks after turning down a professional contract with the Chicago Cubs.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander, who played one season for Daytona State College, was selected in the 44th round by the Cubs in June’s MLB Draft. In mid-July he announced his plans to return to school, with multiple offers from four-year programs including UF, Auburn, Mississippi State, South Carolina, UCF and FAU, among others.

“It was close to home, and my coach (Tim Touma) is an ex-Gator as well, and he advised me it was the best place to go,” DeJiulio said of his decision. “Nothing better than being a Florida Gator.

“It just all worked out... It fit perfectly for us.”

DeJiulio battled mononucleosis as a freshman at Daytona State, but still managed a 6-4 record despite losing nearly 20 pounds and missing two months of baseball training.