College of Health & Human Performance

A new University of Florida study suggests that baseball players who competed in high school track may have an overlooked advantage in professional baseball. Researchers found that these multi-sport athletes performed better professionally than players who specialized solely in baseball, yet MLB teams did not appear to value track experience in draft selections or signing bonuses. The findings highlight how skills developed through track, including speed, explosiveness and timing, can translate to baseball performance. The research challenges assumptions about early sport specialization while identifying a potential opportunity for teams seeking undervalued talent.

In a new perspective on the future of higher education, Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu argues that universities must evolve from centers of knowledge delivery into engines of innovation and entrepreneurship. As artificial intelligence accelerates change across industries, institutions have an opportunity to transform classrooms into launchpads for new ideas, startups and real-world solutions. Fu emphasizes the importance of connecting students, researchers, investors, legal experts and industry leaders to accelerate innovation. The future, she suggests, belongs to universities that empower students not only to learn about tomorrow, but to help create it.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, University of Florida researcher Orlando Laitano is helping Brazil’s national soccer team prepare for one of its toughest opponents: extreme heat. By analyzing individual sweat composition and fluid loss, Laitano develops personalized hydration strategies designed to improve performance, recovery and player safety. His work combines advanced monitoring technology with years of research on heat stress and exertional illness. While currently supporting elite athletes on the world stage, the findings are also helping advance broader understanding of hydration, heat resilience and human performance.