University of North Florida baseball shortstop Mathew Farner methodically moved up the ranks during his college years. He started his career just 10 minutes from home at Rollins College, where he didn’t get much playing time.

This was a pattern for Farner, who said he was overlooked in high school because of his size and lack of perceived skill. However, Farner always knew he had the talent to translate his success in practice onto the field. 

Before UNF

Before arriving at UNF, Farner worked his way up, playing at two different smaller junior colleges: Rollins College and Northwest Florida State College. He used the lack of offers out of high school as motivation to work harder in the summer and improve his power. While he couldn’t control his size, Farner could control his work ethic. 

“I wasn’t the biggest kid out there, I was definitely a little undersized,” Farner said. “As far as talent-wise, I always felt that I was not far behind some of these guys and that I could get to that level.”

For the Winter Park native, it was about learning from his mistakes and using his downtime in the summer to his advantage. 

“That’s just kind of how it goes in the baseball world, and knowing that it’s just been kind of like trying to hatch onto an opportunity and take the most advantage of it,” Farner said. 

Rollins College recruited Farner while he debated on whether he should go to school elsewhere and forget baseball. But his dad convinced him to keep grinding. At Rollins, Farner saw glimpses of his potential, and this made him hungrier to play.

“Once I stepped foot in the college baseball world, the belief only grew even more, and that’s kind of what led me to where I’m at now,” Farner said.

Then Farner moved to the Northwest and faced difficult pitchers who threw hard. This year helped prepare him for the eventual transition to UNF. 

“You know seeing what that kind of pitching looks like and how these guys are trying to attack you,” Farner said. “It was a little bit of a struggle last year.”

Father’s Influence

As a kid, Farner was like most talented and athletic youngsters, playing many sports. He developed a special attachment to baseball while watching the Tampa Bay Rays with his dad.

“That and having played [baseball] since I was four,” Farner said. “I guess that was just kind of what made that sport stick out the most and what made me ultimately want to choose that one.”

Growing up, Farner’s favorite player was Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, who is one of their best players in franchise history. Currently, Farner is a shortstop, but at the plate, he always tries to replicate his swing.

Starting as a kid, Farner continued learning the sport with his dad working in the batting cages through high school. Despite being doubted, Farner believed in himself, hoping he would be rewarded in the future.

“Things just didn’t go my way in high school with the recruiting side,” Farner said.

Quick Success at UNF

Last summer, Farner played in the Florida summer league and saw what he was capable of on the field. A breakout summer season led Farner to receive a call from UNF head coach Joe Mercadante. 

During this call, Mercadante mentioned that there was an open spot on the team and he thought Farner would be a great fit. Farner said he learned how to compete in Division One through his time at Northwest Florida State College, a reputable junior college. 

“I got to Northwest, and there was competition there, and that’s what I wanted was people to compete with,” Farner said. “Even though it was a tougher year, it was still a great learning experience.”

According to Farner, Mercadante saw his summer production and junior college experience, including his will to win as key factors for recruiting the junior.

“I want to win,” Farner said. “I’m not out here just to be ok with being ok. Seeing that they were hungry to start turning this program around and putting together a good product out on the field was where I wanted to be.”

Farner said the coaching staff only wants players who want to win. 

So far, Farner and the Ospreys are winning, posting a 10-2 ASUN record. Statistically, in 32 games and 120 at-bats, Farner has collected a team-leading nine home runs, surging to a .300 batting average, 12 stolen bases, and 28 runs batted in. 

These rewards led him to winning ASUN Player of the Week in early March. 

When he arrived at UNF, Farner felt the nerves of a Division One school but he believed in his work over the summer.

“Trusting that what I’ve been through wasn’t going to be any different [than Division One],” Farner said. “91 [miles per hour] is 91 it’s not going to be different whether it’s junior college, D1 or over the summer. Sure enough, it’s been working so far.”

Farner’s Surge In Power

In Mercadante’s first two years, the Ospreys averaged 38 home runs per season. This year, the team has 34, with just over one month left in the season. Personally, Farner saw glimpses of his own power, and it was just a matter of time before he “put it all together.”

“I always knew I had the possibility of hitting home runs,” Farner said. “I always believed that I have a lot more pop in me. This has been just great seeing it all coming through at once.”

Power-hitting shortstops are considered rare and valuable in upper levels. Farner has accounted for nine of the 34 home runs, and he believes this lineup is potent top to bottom. 

“It helps the team a lot when we got guys all going yard,” Farner said. “Once the offense gets a little spark each game, it’s really tough to get through one through nine.”

He said hitting coach Brad Wilkerson preaches being on time, a pitcher’s best pitch, and hitting fastballs. Specifically, Farner said it’s all about sequencing his body when he makes contact with the ball.

“If I can time [the ball up], especially at our field, the ball is going to go and it’s not necessarily trying to hit home runs,” Farner said. “It’s really just trying to have that sequence up and hit it as hard as I can.”

Team Culture and Success

Speaking on the team’s new field, Farner said the new turf field is his favorite part about being an Osprey. 

“Having such a nice field and facility,” Farner said. “I love coming to the field every day. It’s honestly something I’ve never had.”

Mentally, Farner said everyone is on the same page, and that’s what’s made coming to the field fun.

“Overall, feeling that we’re here to be good and we expect to be good,” Farner said. “It’s kind of fun to come to the field and just get after it every day.”

As a team, the Ospreys started slowly, compiling an 8-11 record. Since then, though, UNF is 10-3 overall. Farner attributes this turnaround to improving defensively and not giving the other team free runners.

“That helps with the pitching staff,” Farner said. “It gives our staff that much more confidence to attack the zone and let these guys put it in play.”

Offensively, Farner said the ways this team can score have made this squad multidimensional. 

“We can steal, bunt, hit home runs, doubles,” Farner said. “Whether it’s a close game where we have to get guys moving on the bases, or we’re just on one that game and hitting doubles, homers all over the yard. We always have a plan offensively.”

Off the field, Farner said the team has a deep bond, which helps its on-field chemistry. The team likes to go to the beach together, fish, golf, and even eat at Rainbow Sushi, a favorite of the team.

“Rainbow Sushi is a hotspot in our locker room,” Farner said. “We all kind of enjoy being around each other.”

The UNF Baseball team will travel together to West Georgia for a three-game series. It starts on Friday, April 10, at 6 p.m. in Carrollton, Georgia.

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