The fans, animals of Section B, and the Florida State Seminoles baseball team have eagerly anticipated Opening Day for months, and it is almost here. The Seminoles enter the 2025 season as a consensus top-ten team, ready to start their campaign on Friday, February 14th when they play host to James Madison.
In the first part of this now three-part baseball season preview, we examined Florida State’s offense and whether they brought in viable options to replace the production that was lost in 2024. We are now going to focus on stopping the opposing team if they can put the ball in play against what could be the best pitching staff in program history.
Defense is Coach Jarrett’s bread and butter and has been a major focus at every stop during his coaching career. During his time at UNC Greensboro and Notre Dame, he turned programs that struggled on defense into top 10 units, with his best defense being in 2022 when the Fighting Irish ranked number one in fielding percentage (.986). That Irish team only committed 21 errors through 39 games. Jarret’s Irish teams committed a total of just 41 errors in 2022 and 30 in 2021. Both seasons were the best in the conference with a fielding percentage of .980.
In 2024, the Seminoles saw a significant improvement in their defense compared to 2023 when they were the worst fielding team in the conference with a fielding percentage of .964 and committing a total of 58 errors. Remarkably, that was an improvement from Mike Martin Jr.’s final season, where the Seminoles committed an additional 16 errors.
By the end of the 2024 season, the Seminoles ranked among the top teams in the ACC. They finished fourth in fielding percentage at .979, ninth in errors with 50, and third in double plays with 48. Coach Jarrett has consistently emphasized the fundamentals in practices throughout the fall and preseason. It is clear that he believes in the old saying that “defense wins championships.”
In a mid-January interview with Baseball America, Coach Jarrett stated that his team’s defense would need to “be better” for their refreshed identity to succeed. History suggests that this team will continue to improve defensively, but achieving this goal will require ongoing effort and commitment. We are all asking the same questions.
We all know who will be manning the middle of the infield, with returning shortstop Alex Lodise and second baseman Drew Faurot. We also have an idea of who will play center field, as the Seminoles are bringing back center fielder Max Williams. However, this raises the question of who will replace the corner outfielders, given that the Seminoles lost outfielders James Tibbs III (right field) and Jamie Ferrer (left field), as well as infielders Daniel Cantu (first base) and Cam Smith (third base). Let’s start with what we do know, which is the situation behind the plate.
During the 2024 season, the catching position was primarily shared between Jaxson West and McGwire Holbrook. Ultimately, West secured the starting role down the stretch and participated in every game of the NCAA tournament. Holbrook has since graduated, and West is positioned to retain his role as the main catcher moving forward.
In 2024, West proved to be a solid defensive catcher, finishing the season with an impressive .991 fielding percentage and only four errors. This is particularly notable considering that the catching position has been a weak point for the program since Cal Raleigh’s departure. Not only does West stabilize this position, but he is also feared by base runners; he allowed only four stolen bases out of twenty attempts.
Coach Jarrett understands that to reach Omaha, a team can’t rely on just one catcher, as their knees may break down under pressure. To address this need for depth, he brought in two additional catchers to help share the load with West. Freshman Hunter Carns and Dartmouth graduate transfer Nathan Cmeyla have been added to the roster. West and Cmeyla are expected to handle most of the catching duties in the early part of the season.
Carns, considered one of the most highly touted freshmen in the country and ranked as the fourth-best recruit to arrive on campus by Perfect Game, still has some work to do on his defensive skills. Behind the plate, he possesses a strong arm that will help him control the running game as he continues to develop his skills.
Once Carns becomes more comfortable, he is likely to secure the number two spot in the catching rotation. Gaining experience by working alongside two veteran catchers will aid in his growth, and together, the trio of West, Carns, and Cmeyla could become one of the best catching groups in the country.
Florida State returns their middle infield duo, as juniors Alex Lodise and Drew Faurot look to build on their solid debut seasons in Tallahassee. The pair of former transfers enter the 2025 season as one of the best middle infield duos in the country. However, for this to happen, Alex Lodise (shortstop) needs to improve his fielding, as he led the team in errors in 2024 with 12. This inconsistency is part of the reason we saw Lodise benched at times, allowing freshman Cal Fisher to take over shortstop duties. With Fisher now in line to replace Cam Smith at third base, there’s little room for error (no pun intended).
As for Cal Fisher, he is the top candidate to fill the hot corner. The big question is whether he will end the season at third base, given that he is capable of playing across the infield and may be the Seminoles’ shortstop of the future after Lodise. In 32 games last season, the Wisconsin native delivered one of the team’s best defensive performances, committing only one error and posting a .986 fielding percentage. If Fisher does need to switch back to shortstop, junior college transfer Carter McCulley could step in. McCulley comes from Pensacola State (Pensacola, FL), where he recorded 16 errors and had a .899 fielding percentage last season. While he is prone to making mistakes, he offers valuable depth behind Fisher.
We have addressed the question of who might start at third base, but it leads me to wonder, “Who’s on first?” In 2024, the Seminoles had a reliable first baseman for the first time in a while: Daniel Cantu. He had an outstanding performance, finishing his final season with a fielding percentage of .994 and committing only three errors. So, who can replicate that level of production at first base?
The first player that comes to mind is true freshman Myles Bailey, who could effectively replace Cantu. Bailey stands at 6’4″ and weighs 257 pounds. He may receive the starting nod after an impressive fall season. Head coach Link Jarrett has praised Bailey, stating, “He has a physicality that I’ve never seen.” “I’ve coached some really dynamic offensive players, but I haven’t had anyone of Jared Verse’s size running around in practice.” However, as a true freshman, Bailey faces tough competition for the first base position. The Seminoles also return redshirt freshman James Hankerson and have added transfer Blaydon Plain (Pensacola State) to the lineup.
I believe Bailey’s biggest competition for the starting position should be Blaydon Plain. Given his experience, I think he should start the season at first base until Bailey gets accustomed to college baseball. Blaydon is a versatile athlete who is athletic enough to play in the corner outfield. During his two seasons at Pensacola State, he was solid on defense, posting a .961 fielding percentage with only eleven errors in 96 games played. This performance aligns with the vision of our program.
Now it’s time for the most important position on the field in my eyes behind pitching and that is the outfield. After being a bit of a defensive shuffle at times in 2024, the Florida State outfield is set to consist of three center fielders, yes you read that correctly three center fielders Max Williams, Chase Williams, and Gage Harrelson. The range of this three-headed monster will certainly rob quite a few base hits in 2025. Max is the headliner after a breakout campaign that saw him hit .311 with 11 doubles, four triples, and 14 home runs. He is currently projected to be a day-one draft pick in the next MLB draft.
As for right field Gage Harrelson from Texas Tech is set to take over for James Tibbs III. Harrelson has demonstrated exceptional defensive skills, boasting a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000 in 43 games, with zero errors committed in 2024. His speed and ability to climb the fence are impressive; while he may not be robbing home runs at Howser due to the height of the right field fence, he certainly has the capability to bring back deep fly balls in other stadiums.
Then you have Chase Williams, a JUCO transfer, who is likely to step in for Jaime Ferrer at left field. Williams showcases his speed and arm as he starts the season in left field. In 2024 at Northwest Florida State, he only committed two errors and recorded a .979 fielding percentage, and was named a Florida College System Activities Association Gold Glove winner. Additionally, Brody DeLamielleure, who had a strong summer and fall, is expected to see increased playing time as the Seminoles’ fourth outfielder. Blaydon Plain and football standout BJ Gibson also provide valuable depth in the outfield.
The Seminoles defensively return a quality core but look to be a very different team heading into 2025. The production of Tibbs, Ferrer, and Cam Smith is not easy to replace. The returning quartet of Max Williams, Jaxson West, Drew Faurot, and Alex Lodise will have to transition from role players to stars while Cal Fisher, Chase Williams, Myles Bailey, and Hunter Carns will have to live up to massive expectations. From what I’ve seen and heard from the fall and preseason, I expect this defense could be one of the best in baseball this season. In case you missed it, check out part one of our 2025 FSU baseball preview: Offense HERE.
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