Opening day is less than a week away as the Seminoles baseball program finishes final preparations for the upcoming season. There’s a lot of excitement around this program heading into 2026. Two years ago, Florida State returned to Omaha ahead of schedule. Last season, they came within a single win of going back.
Nineteen draft picks in two seasons, a roster that keeps producing pros, and a coaching staff that has turned development into a competitive advantage — it’s fair to say Link Jarrett has this program moving with purpose.
The foundation is built. The culture is established. The facilities are catching up. And as the Seminoles enter 2026 with one of the deepest rosters of the Jarrett era, the expectation is no longer whether FSU can contend. It’s whether this is the group that finally brings home the hardware.
Listen to Link Jarrett for five minutes and you understand why this rebuild never felt like a rebuild. His attention to detail is relentless — from swing decisions to defensive footwork to the biomechanics captured in the new pitching lab. The “Launch Pad” and the motion‑capture systems aren’t just shiny upgrades; they’re tools that allow FSU to develop players with a level of precision that rivals any program in the country.
The results speak for themselves. Players get better here. They get drafted. They win.
And the fanbase has responded. The Animals of Section B continue to give Dick Howser Stadium one of the most unique atmospheres in college baseball. Their chants, their traditions, and their presence turn a regular-season weekend into something that feels bigger. For a program chasing its first national title, that energy matters.
The MLB Draft was both a blessing and a challenge. It validated the program’s trajectory — but it also created holes. Big ones. It will be no easy task to replace starters like Jamie Arnold, Joey Volini, Alex Lodise, and Drew Faurot, among others. However, FSU did a great job reloading the roster this offseason and enters 2026 with 23 new players on a 39‑man roster, featuring a blend of high‑upside freshmen and experienced transfers.
When asked to describe the team in one word, my friend Gary Davis of the Animals of Section B didn’t hesitate: deep.
That depth will be tested early, but it also gives FSU more lineup flexibility, more matchup options, and more ways to navigate the grind of ACC play.
Florida State lost a significant portion of its pitching staff, including two weekend starters, but the response was aggressive and intentional. Thirteen new arms join the roster, giving Micah Posey a mix of experience, velocity, and stylistic variety that he didn’t always have last season.
The goal was clear:
• Replace weekend innings
• Add bullpen depth
• Diversify looks
• Bring in veteran stability
Posey believes they accomplished all of it. The only early setback: freshmen Braxton Varnes and Jacob Marlowe are out for the year. Even so, the staff feels deeper and more balanced than it did a season ago.
The New Faces
Trey Beard – Jr. LHP (FAU)
The top pitcher in the portal per D1 Baseball, Beard arrives with frontline potential. After a strong offseason in the weight room, he looks the part of a weekend anchor.
2025: 3.14 ERA | 86 IP | 118 K – 32 BB | .199 BAA
Bryson Moore – Jr. RHP (UVA)
A four‑pitch righty who exceeded expectations this fall. By Link’s internal grading metrics, he was the best pitcher on the staff.
2025: 3.44 ERA | 18.1 IP | 21 K – 8 BB
Cole Stokes – Jr. RHP (Oregon)
Posey called his stuff some of the best he’s ever coached. The raw talent is undeniable; command refinement will determine his role.
2025: 3.10 ERA | 20.1 IP | .130 BAA | 39 Ks – 16 BB
Gabe Nard – Sr. RHP (Duke)
Logged over one hundred ACC appearances. Heavy sinker. A Swiss‑army‑knife arm that can bridge innings or handle leverage.
2025: 50.2 IP | 4.62 ERA | 45 Ks – 17 BB
Brody Purcell – Jr. RHP (USC)
A breakout candidate with a strong track record of run prevention.
2025: 42.2 IP | 2.11 ERA | .177 BAA | 51 Ks – 19 BB
Freshman Manny Lantigua is another name the staff believes could contribute sooner rather than later.
Returning Arms
Wes Mendes (returning Jr. LHP) took a meaningful step forward this offseason, maturing on and off the mound and tightening his pitch mix. He will assume a weekend starter role, potentially filling the Friday night spot where his emotional play style would fit well.
2025: 5.42 ERA | 78 IP | 90 K – 39 BB | .240 BAA
John Abraham, Payton Manca, Cade O’Leary, Ben Barrett, and Chris Knier round out a group that should give FSU more stability than the turnover suggests.
The pitching lab is already paying dividends. Motion‑capture analysis, biomechanical breakdowns, and targeted adjustments have helped refine mechanics and sharpen command. Combine that with Jarrett’s practice philosophy — putting pitchers in stressful, game‑like situations — and you get a staff that should be better equipped to handle high‑leverage moments.
The outfield may be the most athletic group Jarrett has had at FSU, which is something he likes. FSU has plenty of capable options that could play any part of the field, but the likely trio is:
• Chase Williams
• Bradyn Dowd
• Brody Delamielleure
Williams’ athleticism makes him a natural fit in center, though Dowd has experience there from his time at USC. Delamielleure brings power and improved defensive versatility after working in right field this fall, after playing in left field most of last season. Depth options include Noah Sheffield and John Stetzer, both capable of pushing for playing time.
Replacing Lodise and Faurot is no small task. The middle infield is the biggest question mark, but the staff has options.
First Base: Myles Bailey returns after a breakout season. His size gives him tremendous range, and his bat is essential to the lineup. Eli Putnam likely slides to first if Bailey were to miss any time.
Third Base: Cal Fisher was excellent at the hot corner last year, starting 52 games for the Seminoles, and will likely remain there this season, although he is capable of playing middle infield if needed. Putnam or freshman Will Bavaro provide depth.
Second Base: One of two unsettled spots, but the most likely candidates are Eli Putnam, followed by Jace Estes.
Shortstop is believed to be a battle between Gabe Fraizer (Arkansas transfer) and Carter McCulley.
Catcher: Health is the concern. Hunter Carnes and Nathan Cmeyla will share duties, with Carnes getting the start if he’s good to go.
DH: A rotating cast depending on defensive alignment. Options include:
• Noah Sheffield
• Eli Putnam
• Brody Delamielleure
• Freshmen Kelvyn Paulino Jr. and Charlie Buckles could also fill this role.
The challenge will be balancing defense with getting the best bats in the lineup.
FSU lost four of its top five hitters from last season, but there’s plenty of reason for optimism.
The Headliners
Myles Bailey
The offense starts with him. After a slow start adjusting to college pitching, he caught fire late and looked like one of the ACC’s most dangerous hitters. Bailey has the potential to be one of the best bats in the country in year two. 2025: 327 avg. | 19 HR | 56 RBI
Cal Fisher
A steady .300+ bat with gap power and strong situational hitting.
Chase Williams
Hit .342 in limited action and stole 18 bases. If he stays healthy, he could be a top‑of‑the‑order spark.
Brody Delamielleure
Six home runs in 110 at‑bats. The power is real; the strikeouts need trimming.
Eli Putnam
A massive addition from Davidson.
.349 | 19 HR | 62 RBI
He brings middle‑of‑the‑order production.
Bradyn Dowd (USC)
.324 | 10 HR | 15 doubles
A polished hitter who lengthens the lineup or could hit leadoff.
Hunter Carnes
Nearly hit .300 as a true freshman with emerging power.
There’s some uncertainty about how it will look, yes, but also plenty of upside. This lineup has the potential to be deeper than last year’s if the newcomers settle in quickly.
FSU opens with four weeks of non‑conference play before diving into an ACC slate that features five preseason Top‑25 opponents.
Non‑Conference Highlights
• JMU to open the season (FSU swept them last year)
• Arlington trip vs. Michigan, Auburn (preseason #9), and Nebraska
• Home weekends vs. The Citadel and Northern Kentucky
• Midweeks against Jacksonville, UNF, and Mercer
Plus a Midweek series vs preseason No. 13 Florida
ACC Challenges
• at #21 Wake Forest
• vs #17 NC State
• vs Duke
• at Virginia
• at #5 Georgia Tech
• vs Notre Dame
• at Stanford
• vs Pitt
• at #19 Clemson
• vs #22 Miami
Three ranked opponents on the road. Five ranked opponents overall. It’s a demanding schedule — but one that will reveal exactly how deep this team truly is. It makes for a difficult regular-season road, but this team will be battle-tested by the time they reach the postseason.
Florida State enters 2026 with a roster that looks different, but not diminished. The draft took its toll, but the staff rebuilt aggressively, adding experience, velocity, and athleticism across the board. The offense has star power. The pitching staff has depth. The defense has versatility.
Most importantly, the program has momentum — real, sustained momentum.
The next step is the hardest one. But with the way this roster is constructed, and with the way this staff develops talent, it’s not unreasonable to believe that Florida State could once again find itself in the national conversation deep into June.
The foundation is there. The depth is there. The belief is there.
Now it’s time to see if 2026 is the year the Seminoles finally bring home the hardware. Thanks for reading, and Go Noles!
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