For starters, "Gush" had the grades and the hours necessary to make leaving early a possibility. Add to that the desire expressed by the Gator coaching staff to have him enroll early and the die was cast. Gushue signed his National Letter of Intent with Florida in November to make it official.
Though he leaves with a season of eligibility, Gushue is the CCA career and single season home run leader with 30 total. He set the single season record as a sophomore with 11 - not counting one that was disallowed when he was ruled to have missed home plate post trot. On the following at-bat, he hit another tremendous blast and made an emphatic jump on home plate for the umpire's benefit.
While Coach Mucerino knows how much the team will miss Taylor's bat and leadership behind the plate, he is proud to have coached such a special player. “A baseball player leaving early is something that you almost never hear of,” said Calvary coach Gregg Mucerino. “But Taylor is that kind of a kid. I’ve never coached a more humble kid, and I am just impressed by the way he has always carried himself.”
“God has pushed me to this point, and I am motivated to work harder, to put in the work and go out and be a part of the UF tradition,” Gushue said on signing day. “It’s exciting to know I am doing something that only a small group of baseball players have ever done. It was really special to sign here at Calvary today. I couldn’t ask for anything more than what this school has already given me.”
By signing early, Gushue is not eligible for the 2012 MLB Draft. However, he will be eligible again following his junior season of college baseball when he will be only 20 years of age.
