USF’s Defensive Anchor Behind the Plate with a Bat That Played Up in 2026
In the 2026 season, Lance Trippel gave South Florida a legit two-way catcher profile: he hit .304 with a .827 OPS, 3 homers, 29 RBI, 13 doubles, and a 26-game reached-base streak, while starting 46 of 48 games at catcher and posting a .989 fielding percentage with 13 runners caught stealing. He was named American Athletic Conference second team and was described by USF as the Bulls’ unquestioned leader behind the plate. For a team, he brings toughness, steadiness, and everyday reliability—exactly the kind of glue guy coaches love.
