​Oregon outfielder Naulivou Lauaki Jr. is close to making a choice after spending two weeks in the transfer portal. On Saturday, the No. 6-ranked uncommitted designated hitter, according to D1Baseball, revealed on TikTok that his top three schools are Georgia, Florida, and Texas A&M. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound rising redshirt sophomore has considerable power, helping the Ducks reach the Super Regionals with a .321/.370/.687 line, 14 homers, and 37 RBIs over 41 games this season. He does carry some strikeout concerns, posting a 40.4% K% and a 4.8% BB%, but his power is elite, with averages showing the ball off his bat at 98 mph, per D1Baseball.
Lauaki’s decision appears imminent after he teased his top three on TikTok. Georgia is currently a hot destination for recruits, but Florida also remains a strong option for transfers. Over the past few years, Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan has found success with two-way players, notably Jac Caglianone and Caden McDonald. Lauaki previously was the top-ranked right-handed pitcher in Utah coming out of high school; Tommy John surgery forced a redshirt in 2025, and he focused on hitting this past season.
If Lauaki decides to return to the mound, Florida offers a proven track record in developing pitchers. Caglianone and McDonald both returned from Tommy John surgery, giving O’Sullivan a familiarity with managing such recoveries. Florida also added an elite pitching coach in Rich Dorman this offseason.
There is no published timeline for Lauaki’s decision, but narrowing his options to three programs signals that an announcement may be imminent. Follow Florida Gators coverage on X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky, and Facebook for ongoing updates and analysis. This article originally appeared on Gators Wire.