Kevin O'Sullivan leaned against the dugout railing, his sharp gaze scanning the field where his players were finishing a spirited round of batting practice.
For a moment, the accomplished Gators coach who has built a perennial powerhouse in Gainesville, allowed himself to admire the work he and his staff had done to assemble a roster they believe would once again give them a shot at Omaha.
The amount of pure talent at O'Sullivan's disposal and around the country, he said, can at times feel staggering, especially when compared with other teams he's managed or faced, including his own 2017 national champions.
Ask him about the state of college baseball, and O'Sullivan won't hesitate to heap praise on the NCAA. He applauds how the sport has surged into the national spotlight with record-breaking viewership, expanded media coverage and a pipeline of players who go on to rapidly reach the big leagues.
Still, though, as his mind shifted back to the players who might be the next to make that leap, his optimism about the state of the college game clouded slightly. While O'Sullivan lauds the strides the NCAA has made, he worries the same organization might be unwittingly slowing the sport's momentum.
Behind the buzz and booming growth, he sees potential roadblocks-policies and missed opportunities that could stall the game's evolution just as it reaches new heights.
"I do look at baseball as a sport that is growing in popularity," O'Sullivan said. "I don't know why they're trying to take that away from us."
Denne historien er fra February 2025-utgaven av Baseball America.
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Denne historien er fra February 2025-utgaven av Baseball America.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
INDEPENDENT SPIRIT
Following the dissolution of the Pac-12, Oregon State embraces the uncertainty-and challenge of playing with no conference affiliation and remaining a national power
MLB FEELS THE LOSS OF MR. BASEBALL, BOB UECKER
Bob Uecker was never afraid to laugh at himself. His sense of humor endeared him to millions and earned him a place of reverence in the game, making his Mr. Baseball moniker entirely fitting.
BASEBALL LOSES RICKEY HENDERSON, ITS MAN OF STEAL
From roaming the hallways at Oakland Technical High to breaking records down the road at the Oakland Coliseum, left fielder Rickey Henderson personified the heart and grit of his home city.
A WINNING COMBINATION
More talent and better training methods have made college baseball a more attractive precursor to pro ball. Preseason No. 1 Texas A&M typifies this talent-rich new reality.
IT'S NOT HOW YOU START
Evidence mounts that baseball players, especially pitchers, should aim to peak around age 20
WHY COLLEGE BASEBALL COACHES ARE PURSUING OLDER ROSTERS
Nick Mingione was certain about two things heading into the 2023 season, his seventh at the helm of Kentucky's baseball program.
TWINSPIRATION
Witherspoon twins Kyson and Malachi draw inspiration from their determined single mother and each other as their baseball journey leads them to the front of Oklahoma's rotation
INDEPENDENT/PARTNER LEAGUES PLAYER OF THE YEAR ADAM FOGEL, MISSOULA PADDLEHEADS
Adam Fogel sets the Pioneer League home run record in a season to remember
MINOR LEAGUE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR MIKE ABRAMSON, HARTFORD YARD GOATS
Hartford GM Mike Abramson’s tireless dedication has made the Yard Goats one of the best tickets in the minor leagues
