Meet the Gators: The Outfielders
Friday, January 30, 2026 | Baseball
New to the outfield grass at Condron Family Ballpark is transfer Jaden Bastian in addition to freshmen Jacob Kendall and Cash Strayer.
With two weeks remaining prior to Opening Night on Feb. 13, one group of Florida Baseball newcomers is still in need of a formal introduction to Gator Nation. The 2025 Meet the Gators series concludes with the outfielders, which features transfer junior Jaden Bastian, as well as true freshmen Jacob Kendall and Cash Strayer. Each member of this talented trio came to Gator Country with high anticipation and figure to make a major impact on the team heading into the 2026 season and beyond.
Jaden Bastian
Ranked as Baseball America's No. 25 impact transfer in the country, Bastian will wear No. 0 in Orange & Blue after two seasons at Jacksonville University from 2023-24. The Winter Garden, Fla. native made 55 starts in center field for the Dolphins last season, hitting .302 with 64 hits, 11 homers and 33 RBI. Bastian finished the campaign as the Atlantic Sun Conference leader in stolen bases (36) while tying for first in the ASUN with five triples. Across two seasons at JU, he produced a .289/.429/.524 batting line with 17 homers, 12 doubles and 47 steals.
As a prepster, Bastian played for head baseball coach Scott Grove at The First Academy in Orlando, Fla. Across 28 games his senior year in 2023, he batted .393/.491/.651 for a 1.143 OPS while totaling four homer, one triple, nine doubles, 39 runs, 21 RBI and 17 steals in 17 attempts. His performance helped power The First Academy to a 25-3 record and a first-place finish in 2A District 7. Going back to his sophomore season, Bastian and the Royals claimed the 2021 State Championship. Entering college, he was ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 301 recruit nationally while coming in as the No. 40 player and No. 5 outfielder in the state.
Jacob Kendall
Shifting to the rookies, Kendall is set to don No. 43 as a Gator after a stellar prep career at A3 Academy (2024-25) and Bartram Trail High School (2022-23). Hailing from St. Augustine, Fla., Kendall and the Trojans won the 2025 NAA Regular Season Championship en route to a 19-5 record. Not only did Kendall collect A3 Academy's 2025 Offensive Player of the Year Award, but he was named First Team All-NAA in his senior campaign. On April 1, he was tabbed the NAA Player of the Week after going 6-for-8 (.750) with two home runs and two doubles.
Competing at Bartram Trail during his freshman and sophomore seasons, Kendall appeared in 34 total games and went a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen bases. He was a three-time Perfect Game Preseason First Team All-Region recipient while earning invitations to the 2024 PG National Showcase and 2023 Junior National Showcase. After being named to 46 different all-tournament teams at PG events from 2017-24, Kendall was ranked as the No. 171 recruit and No. 36 outfielder in the country as part of the 2025 class.
Cash Strayer
The H.B. Plant High School pipeline continues with Cash Strayer this season, who fans will find roaming the outfield in No. 26. The Tampa, Fla. product starred for head coach Dennis Braun over two varsity campaigns from 2024-25. In 47 career games, Strayer slashed .338/.430/.458 with one homer, 14 doubles, 39 runs scored and 20 RBI in 142 at bats. He also stole nine bags during his high school tenure.
As a junior, Strayer hit .356/.481/.475 for a .956 OPS in 21 games. That output was accompanied by seven doubles, 21 runs scored and six steals. Also competing for the Top Tier Roos Americans during his prep years, Strayer arrive in Gainesville as Perfect Game's No. 375 player nationally, on top of holding status as the No. 41 recruit and No. 12 outfielder in Florida.
The Gators are currently in week three of preseason practice, with all practices and scrimmages free to attend and open to the public. 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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Jaden Bastian
Ranked as Baseball America's No. 25 impact transfer in the country, Bastian will wear No. 0 in Orange & Blue after two seasons at Jacksonville University from 2023-24. The Winter Garden, Fla. native made 55 starts in center field for the Dolphins last season, hitting .302 with 64 hits, 11 homers and 33 RBI. Bastian finished the campaign as the Atlantic Sun Conference leader in stolen bases (36) while tying for first in the ASUN with five triples. Across two seasons at JU, he produced a .289/.429/.524 batting line with 17 homers, 12 doubles and 47 steals.
T9 | JAX 3 FGCU 2
— Jacksonville Baseball (@JUBaseball) April 5, 2025
JADEN. BASTIAN. BANG.
A go-ahead 💣 in the ninth gives us the late lead!!!
📺: https://t.co/MaZGQbXhu4
📊: https://t.co/KZoM6n8XZl#𝗝𝗨𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗨𝗽| #𝗦𝗼𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 | #𝗝𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 pic.twitter.com/S2XiGXtolS
As a prepster, Bastian played for head baseball coach Scott Grove at The First Academy in Orlando, Fla. Across 28 games his senior year in 2023, he batted .393/.491/.651 for a 1.143 OPS while totaling four homer, one triple, nine doubles, 39 runs, 21 RBI and 17 steals in 17 attempts. His performance helped power The First Academy to a 25-3 record and a first-place finish in 2A District 7. Going back to his sophomore season, Bastian and the Royals claimed the 2021 State Championship. Entering college, he was ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 301 recruit nationally while coming in as the No. 40 player and No. 5 outfielder in the state.
Jacob Kendall
Shifting to the rookies, Kendall is set to don No. 43 as a Gator after a stellar prep career at A3 Academy (2024-25) and Bartram Trail High School (2022-23). Hailing from St. Augustine, Fla., Kendall and the Trojans won the 2025 NAA Regular Season Championship en route to a 19-5 record. Not only did Kendall collect A3 Academy's 2025 Offensive Player of the Year Award, but he was named First Team All-NAA in his senior campaign. On April 1, he was tabbed the NAA Player of the Week after going 6-for-8 (.750) with two home runs and two doubles.
'25 OF Jacob Kendall (@A3_Trojans) backspins this one deep to LCF & gets it out for a solo 💣. Pretty LH swing & effortless bat speed; shows off the strength here hitting this one out oppo. @GatorsBB signee. #NAA @naaconference pic.twitter.com/P8K2FTsSAy
— Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) May 14, 2025
Competing at Bartram Trail during his freshman and sophomore seasons, Kendall appeared in 34 total games and went a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen bases. He was a three-time Perfect Game Preseason First Team All-Region recipient while earning invitations to the 2024 PG National Showcase and 2023 Junior National Showcase. After being named to 46 different all-tournament teams at PG events from 2017-24, Kendall was ranked as the No. 171 recruit and No. 36 outfielder in the country as part of the 2025 class.
Cash Strayer
The H.B. Plant High School pipeline continues with Cash Strayer this season, who fans will find roaming the outfield in No. 26. The Tampa, Fla. product starred for head coach Dennis Braun over two varsity campaigns from 2024-25. In 47 career games, Strayer slashed .338/.430/.458 with one homer, 14 doubles, 39 runs scored and 20 RBI in 142 at bats. He also stole nine bags during his high school tenure.
'25 CF Cash Strayer (FL, @GatorsBB)
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2025
Simple direct path here for a laced sac fly to center. Present bat speed with some sneaky pwr potential.
Glides in OF w/ impressive closing speed.
6'2" 195 frame stands out w/ more physicality coming. #MLBDraft || @PrepBaseballFL pic.twitter.com/MhliGXtJe3
As a junior, Strayer hit .356/.481/.475 for a .956 OPS in 21 games. That output was accompanied by seven doubles, 21 runs scored and six steals. Also competing for the Top Tier Roos Americans during his prep years, Strayer arrive in Gainesville as Perfect Game's No. 375 player nationally, on top of holding status as the No. 41 recruit and No. 12 outfielder in Florida.
The Gators are currently in week three of preseason practice, with all practices and scrimmages free to attend and open to the public. 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.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
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