GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two former Florida baseball stars are set to assume ceremonial first pitch duties when the Gators open the 2026 season against the UAB Blazers this weekend from Feb. 13-15.
 
Two-time All-American and 2017 College World Series Most Outstanding Player Alex Faedo will throw out the honorary first pitch prior to Opening Night on Friday, Feb. 13. Two-time SEC All-Defensive Team member and three-year starter Buddy Reed will take over first pitch honors for game two on Saturday, Feb. 14.

Opening Night is set for Friday night at 6:30 p.m. while game two begins on Saturday at 6 p.m. The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games will air on SEC Network+.

 

Both Faedo (UF 2015-17) and Reed (UF 2014-16) enjoyed a surplus of success in Orange & Blue, overlapping for two seasons as Gators. Currently a free agent, Faedo appeared in the Major Leagues for the Detroit Tigers over three-straight seasons from 2022-24 after being the 18th-overall pick in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft.

 

Shattering records during his final campaign in Gainesville in 2017, Faedo finished his career with the highest win percentage in school history at .824 (28-6). En route to setting the single-season school record for strikeouts as a junior (157), the right-hander turned in a 2.26 ERA over 20 games (19 starts). All told, he wrapped up one of the finest pitching careers in program history behind a 2.80 ERA, .223 batting average against and 349-to-79 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 48 starts spanning 289 2/3 innings.

 

As a second-round selection by the San Diego Padres in 2016, Reed played parts of eight years in the Minor Leagues from 2016-24. From 2014-16, he played in 195 games for the Gators highlighted by 186 starts in the outfield. His best season came in 2015, when he batted .305/.367/.433 with 23 extra-base hits and 18 steals in 69 contests. Reed concluded with a .275/.352/.383 career batting line on top of eight homers, 11 triples, 31 doubles, 134 runs, 85 RBI and 47 steals. Known for his elite glove, he provided a .983 fielding percentage and six outfield assists on defense.

 

Florida opens up the 2026 season at home on Friday, Feb. 13 with the first contest of a three-game series against UAB. Season tickets and SEC Saturday Packs are currently on sale and can be accessed via the baseball ticketing home.

 

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