Florida Gators pitcher Jac Caglianone (14) is all smiles. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Ahead of the College World Series, Florida’s Jac Caglianone has signed an NIL deal with Topps and Fanatics. This marks the first agreement of its kind in all of NCAA baseball. The deal will include trading cards and memorabilia.
Caglianone being the recipient of this major NIL deal is no surprise, as he has been consistently one of the top players in the nation. This season he is a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy thanks to his .411 batting average. This goes along with 33 home runs, 79 runs scored, and 68 RBIs.
Apart from his prowess at the plate that earned him this recognition, his versatility on the mound solidified this groundbreaking NIL opportunity. Caglianone has also started 15 games this season, throwing 72.2 innings, boasting a 4.71 ERA and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. His ability at the plate and on the mound has propelled him to a top-ten projected draft pick in the 2024 draft in July.
Caglianone has led his team back to Omaha a season after coming up one game short of the national championship. The unranked Gators have surprised everyone willing their way
back to Omaha with upset victories over No. 16 Oklahoma State and No. 3 Clemson. Florida will look to continue their upset streak against No. 4 Texas A&M on Saturday.
Jac Caglianone will likely be the first of many players to partner with Topps and Fanatics. With the NIL era in full swing in college athletics, this deal will usher opportunities for collegiate baseball players to profit off their trading cards and memorabilia.
Watch Caglianone in the College World Series on ESPN.
