UAA Communications photo by Madilyn Gemme
Baseball Quartet Makes Graduation Walk
Thursday, April 30, 2026 | Baseball
Three current Gators are set to earn degrees alongside Gator Great Michael Byrne.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – More than 40 Florida Gators student-athletes will receive their degrees this April and May highlighted four UF Baseball players. Current Gators Cade Kurland, Ashton Wilson and Hayden Yost are set to graduate alongside Gator Great Michael Byrne, who has served as a student assistant coach the past two seasons.
Spring commencement ceremonies begin Wednesday, April 29 and run through Monday, May 5.
As one of three spring graduates to win a national team title during their careers, Byrne is a 2017 National Champion and Florida's all-time saves leader. Graduating with a bachelor's degree in education sciences, Byrne pitched to a 1.88 career ERA, 2.13 batting average against and 172 strikeouts across 88 outings spanning 153 frames. After being named the 2018 NCBWA Stopper of the Year and First Team All-American as a junior, Byrne was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB Draft.
Graduating Cum Laude with a degree in finance, Kurland was one of 22 UF student-athletes to complete a degree with honors. Bursting onto the scene as a 2023 Freshman All-American and SEC Champion, Kurland has played parts of four seasons in Orange & Blue while totaling 180 career hits, 36 home runs, 33 doubles, 154 runs scored, 125 RBI and 10 stolen bases. The Florida second baseman has played in 176 games with 173 starts, slashing .272/.382/.489 across 661 at bats.
Wilson graduates with a degree in psychology, having spent each of the last three years at Florida following one season at Charleston Southern. While wearing Orange & Blue, Wilson has played in 75 games including 50 starts. He owns a .237/.374/.379 batting line, five home runs, 13 doubles, 43 runs scored, 37 RBI and 15 stolen bases. The 2024 postseason hero is best remembered for his stellar performance helping the Gators reach the College World Series two years ago, when he was also named the Stillwater Regional Most Value Player.
Completing an undergraduate degree in business administration in his true junior year, Yost has been a contributor on the diamond for the past three seasons. After batting .259/.380/.392 with four long balls as a sophomore one year ago, Yost has nearly matched his home run output (three) in over 100 fewer at bats this season while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in the corner outfield.
The Gators travel to Norman, Okla. this weekend for the first time in program history to take on the Sooners in a three-game series from May 1-3. The series begins on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+. Game two airs on SEC Network at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday followed by Sunday's finale at 3 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
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Spring commencement ceremonies begin Wednesday, April 29 and run through Monday, May 5.
As one of three spring graduates to win a national team title during their careers, Byrne is a 2017 National Champion and Florida's all-time saves leader. Graduating with a bachelor's degree in education sciences, Byrne pitched to a 1.88 career ERA, 2.13 batting average against and 172 strikeouts across 88 outings spanning 153 frames. After being named the 2018 NCBWA Stopper of the Year and First Team All-American as a junior, Byrne was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB Draft.
Graduating Cum Laude with a degree in finance, Kurland was one of 22 UF student-athletes to complete a degree with honors. Bursting onto the scene as a 2023 Freshman All-American and SEC Champion, Kurland has played parts of four seasons in Orange & Blue while totaling 180 career hits, 36 home runs, 33 doubles, 154 runs scored, 125 RBI and 10 stolen bases. The Florida second baseman has played in 176 games with 173 starts, slashing .272/.382/.489 across 661 at bats.
Wilson graduates with a degree in psychology, having spent each of the last three years at Florida following one season at Charleston Southern. While wearing Orange & Blue, Wilson has played in 75 games including 50 starts. He owns a .237/.374/.379 batting line, five home runs, 13 doubles, 43 runs scored, 37 RBI and 15 stolen bases. The 2024 postseason hero is best remembered for his stellar performance helping the Gators reach the College World Series two years ago, when he was also named the Stillwater Regional Most Value Player.
Completing an undergraduate degree in business administration in his true junior year, Yost has been a contributor on the diamond for the past three seasons. After batting .259/.380/.392 with four long balls as a sophomore one year ago, Yost has nearly matched his home run output (three) in over 100 fewer at bats this season while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in the corner outfield.
The Gators travel to Norman, Okla. this weekend for the first time in program history to take on the Sooners in a three-game series from May 1-3. The series begins on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+. Game two airs on SEC Network at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday followed by Sunday's finale at 3 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
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