UF baseball has No. 1 class

Florida’s 2009 recruiting class was named the best in the nation for the first time in school history by Collegiate Baseball.

The Gators’ 11 recruits include 10 freshmen and one junior college transfer. UF’s ranking marks its eighth time in the top 10 on the publication’s list, first since the 2006 group rated third, and represents a 17-spot jump from last year’s rating of 18th.

“This ranking is a credit to the players and how hard each of them worked during their high school and junior college careers and it also recognizes the outstanding effort of our coaching staff during the recruiting process,” said third-year UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan. “These players have performed at a high level and we are counting on them contributing right away for us. The state of Florida possessed a wealth of talent and we were fortunate to have many of these student-athletes come to the University of Florida.”

Ten of the squad’s 11 recruits hail from the talent-laden Sunshine State and the group features five pitchers, three infielders, a pair of catchers and an outfielder.

Nine of the players achieved all-state recognition during their senior prep seasons and infielder Bryson Smith (Watkinsville, Ga.) was recognized as the 2009 American Baseball Coaches Association’s Division I Player of the Year in the National Junior College Athletic Association. Smith was unanimously selected as the Georgia Junior College Athletic Association/Region 17 Player of the Year and was also named a first-team Division I All-American after hitting .467 with a school-record 21 home runs and 90 RBI.