During the 2025 campaign, Byrne helped the Gators achieve an unprecedented SEC turnaround powered by significant improvements on the mound. In the final 18 SEC games, Florida pitchers more than cut their ERA in half at 3.76 while producing a .228 BAA and 197-to-71 K-to-BB ratio over 153 frames. As a result, Florida made the NCAA Tournament for the 17th-consecutive season and became the first-ever SEC team to reach the NCAA Tournament after starting league play 2-10 or worse since 1992 expansion.
Right-hander Jake Clemente was instrumental in UF’s turnaround, taking over the closer role midseason. Logging all seven of his saves in the final 27 games, Clemente registered a team-low 1.33 ERA and .173 BAA on top of a 39-to-10 K-to-BB ratio over 27 innings in that span.
Byrne also worked closely with standout freshman right-hander Blaine Rowland, who went on to make seven appearances in Florida's final 17 games after seeing the mound just once in the Gators' first 44 contests. Rowland made remarkable strides under Byrne and company's tutelege, finishing with a 1-0 record, 3.21 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and .259 batting average against. he did not surrender a single home run or triple across 60 batters faced.
Although his professional playing career is ongoing, Byrne works primarily with UF pitchers as he rehabs from injury after electing free agency in November of 2024.
Helping the Gators to a 2017 College World Series Championship and a trio of Omaha trips across his three-year UF tenure (2016-18), Byrne holds the program records for career saves (35) and saves in a season (19). 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.
Since beginning his professional journey, the Orlando, Fla. native pitched parts of six seasons in the Cincinnati organization. Having advanced to the Triple-A level, Byrne owns a 19-15 record, 3.62 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across 261 1/3 innings. Working primarily as a reliever in the Reds system, he made 174 appearances (10 starts) while fanning 9.2 batters per nine and issuing 3.3 walks per nine.
As a Gator, Byrne solidified himself one of the highest-performing relievers in the history of the program. The righty produced sub-2.00 ERAs in each of his final two campaigns, culminating with a 1.88 career ERA, 2.13 batting average against and 172 strikeouts across 88 outings spanning 153 frames. Showing unparalleled control, Byrne allowed just 23 free passes in his career for a remarkable 1.35 walks per nine.
In addition to the aforementioned accolades, Byrne was a 2018 Dick Howser Trophy Finalist and South All-Region recipient. He previously attended Olympia High School where he played for Head Coach Chuck Schall and was the 2015 Class 8A Player of the Year.
