Florida Gators lose pitcher Pierce Coppola to season-ending surgery

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In early February, Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan said he was hoping to get Pierce Coppola back to “100 percent” by SEC play. Unfortunately for Coppola and the Gators, another injury will keep him sidelined for the rest of this season.

The left-handed sophomore pitcher underwent shoulder surgery this week and is out for the year, Gators Online has learned. Pierce Coppola has yet to pitch in 2023 while recovering from back surgery in the summer, and now he won’t see the mound at all.

He came to Florida as the best pitcher from the state of New Jersey. Coppola earned the Sunday starter role last spring. The talented southpaw pitched just 4.1 innings in 2022 but struck out seven batters in a no-decision.

A bulging disc in his back sidelined the 6-foot-8 Coppola for the rest of last year. The surgery and recovery kept him from playing in the summer or most of the fall.

Coppola’s shoulder started giving him problems in the fall and limited his availability in the spring before this season started, and he has been on the mend throughout 2023.

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