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In a groundbreaking move, Jac Caglianone, the standout first baseman for the Florida Gators, has signed an exclusive deal with Topps x Fanatics, making him the first college baseball player to secure such an agreement. This deal, which includes trading cards and memorabilia, was announced by Topps on Thursday.

This signing underscores the significant platform provided by the Florida Gators, which recently facilitated a historic NIL deal for Gators football star DJ Lagway with Gatorade. Lagway was featured in a commercial during the NBA Finals, highlighting the visibility and opportunities available to Gators athletes.

Dubbed "the Shohei Ohtani of college baseball," Caglianone has been a dominant force in collegiate baseball over the past two years. In the 2023 season, he boasted a batting line of .323/.389/.738, driving in 90 runs and hitting 33 home runs in 71 games, leading the nation in homers. On the pitching side, he started 18 games, maintaining a 4.34 ERA with 87 strikeouts.

Caglianone has continued to excel in the 2024 season, posting a .411/.532/.860 slash line in 62 games. He has hit another 33 home runs and notched 68 RBI, with more games yet to play in the College World Series. His performance ranks him among the national leaders in several batting categories, while also contributing significantly as one of Florida's top pitchers.

Despite his impressive achievements, Caglianone has surprisingly not been named among the finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, the accolade for the top player in college baseball. As he potentially concludes his time in Gainesville, Caglianone aims for the ultimate collegiate prize—a College World Series ring.

Caglianone's exceptional tenure at Florida has seen him shatter records and make his mark both on and off the field, solidifying his status as a once-in-a-generation talent.