SEC News: 2023 SEC Opening Day, Castleton injury

Good morning SEC fans, and welcome to Opening Day of the 2023 baseball season! As you begin your day Friday, here are a few notes from across the SEC that you need to know from Wednesday and Thursday, as well as a look ahead to today’s SEC Opening Day matchups.

Jimmy Nelson signs with Los Angeles Dodgers

According to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, former Alabama right-hander Jimmy Nelson has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nelson, who was a second round pick out of Alabama in the 2010 MLB Draft, last pitched during the 2021 season with the Dodgers, owning a 1.86 ERA and 44:13 K:BB ratio across 29 IP as a reliever.

Florida F Colin Castleton sustains broken hand

Florida forward Colin Castleton sustained a broken hand in Wednesday night’s 79-64 home win over Ole Miss. Castleton has been one of the Gators top playmakers this season, averaging 16 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 2.7 APG, while also leading the SEC with 3 BPG.

Ken Whisenhunt joins Alabama coaching staff

Veteran NFL coach Ken Whisenhunt has joined the Alabama coaching staff as a special assistant to the head coach. Whisenhunt has spent the last two seasons as an analyst at Penn State, as well as eight seasons in the NFL as a head coach with the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans, a span in which he held a combined 48-71 record.

Today’s SEC Baseball Opening Day Games

• Missouri vs No. 9 Oklahoma State (College Baseball Showdown)
• Georgia vs Jacksonville State
• No. 20 Alabama vs Richmond
• Mississippi State vs VMI
• Kentucky vs Elon
• No. 23 South Carolina vs UMass Lowell
• No. 10 Vanderbilt vs No. 15 TCU (College Baseball Showdown)
• No. 4 Ole Miss vs Delaware
• Auburn vs Indiana
• No. 7 Florida vs Charleston Southern
• No. 5 Texas A&M vs Seattle U
• No. 1 LSU vs Western Michigan
• No. 8 Arkansas vs Texas (College Baseball Showdown)
• No. 2 Tennessee vs Arizona (MLB Desert Invitational)