Outfield
The Knights outfield will have a new look for the 2023 season, with only one returner who saw extensive action in 2022–Lex Boedicker.
Trent Taylor's veteran presence is now gone after graduating last spring following three seasons with the Knights.
Boedicker had a breakout freshman season with the Knights--wasting no time in making his offensive presence felt, he crushed a triple on opening night and didn't look back. His batting average sat second among qualifying hitters at a .330 mark. He closed the year out with 62 hits, 38 runs, 28 RBI and drew 20 walks for an on-base percentage of .414. Boedicker displayed his adaptability, making a temporary move from his left field position to first base in light of injuries. His best performance came against South Florida on May 6 where he recorded a season-high four hits including a double, notching two RBI and one run.
John Rhys Plumlee will make his debut with Knights baseball after missing last year due to NCAA transfer rules. Arriving as a transfer from Ole Miss ahead of the 2022 season, the two-sport athlete posted a .267 batting average, with 21 runs and seven stolen bases in 2021. In his two seasons with the Rebels, he had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Corey Robinson, the Port Orange, Florida, native played in 21 games as a true freshman with Florida, accumulating nine runs, three RBI and two stolen bases. His first collegiate hit came in his highlight performance against Florida A&M where he went 2-2 with two runs and three RBI. Arriving to UCF as a sophomore transfer, Robinson was recognized as the ninth-best prospect in the American Athletic Conference by D1 Baseball for the MLB Draft. After a solid performance in the fall, he looks to make an immediate impact in the outfield.
Caiden Matheny joins the Knights as a transfer from Santa Barbara Community College, slashing .279/.391/.441 in the 2022 season.
Brady Shannon is a big name entering the Knights lineup, dubbed one of D1 Baseball's top American Athletic Conference Impact Freshman at No. 5. Shannon was a four-year letter winner and three-sport athlete at Ursuline High School, competing in baseball, football, and basketball. Batting .300 his senior season, he captained the Irish's high school baseball team.
Utility
Two new faces join the Knights roster as utility guys that will see action for UCF at multiple positions - redshirt junior Matt Cedarburg and freshman Jack Porter. Cedarburg, a Fort Myers, Florida, native arrives at UCF as a redshirt junior from Southern Miss and Porter comes to the Knights from Father Ryan High School.
OPENING WEEKEND
Knights baseball begins its 50th campaign in the season opener against the Siena Saints at 6 p.m. on Feb. 17 at John Euliano Park. This series will mark the 10th time the Knights open their season against the Saints. Opening weekend will continue with matchups at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 and 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19.