Florida State baseball has its first portal addition of the offseason. FAMU transfer Jackson McKenzie has committed to Link Jarrett and the Noles, bringing a bat the program needed as it navigates a murky situation at first base and looks to rebuild its lineup.
McKenzie is a six-foot-three, 220-pound left-handed hitter (and lefty pitcher) with a travel itinerary that reads like a baseball road trip: Mississippi State, then Gulf Coast State (JUCO), then FAMU, and now FSU. He arrives with eligibility remaining and a stat line from this past season that should have Nole fans feeling good about the addition.
In 126 at-bats for the Rattlers, McKenzie hit .397 with 13 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, and 52 RBI. His OPS was 1.333, built on an .817 slugging percentage and a .516 OBP. He did punch out 34 times against 26 walks, so there’s some swing-and-miss in the profile, but for a corner bat putting up those power numbers in that many at-bats, the production speaks for itself. McKenzie was named to the All-SWAC First Team as a designated hitter after starting 33 games there and three at first base. He went 3-for-3 with an RBI against the Gators.
The first base connection is the key piece of context here. With Myles Bailey’s draft status still up in the air, Ben Barrett out of eligibility, and Charlie Buckles having entered the portal, FSU had a real hole to fill on the corner. McKenzie gives Jarrett a legitimate option. Versatility matters too. He can play first or DH depending on how the roster shakes out, which gives the coaching staff options.
On the mound, McKenzie made 14 relief appearances this season and posted a 7.55 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 17 walks. That’s not a number that inspires much confidence as a pitcher, and his path to contributing there at the Power Four level is narrow. Honestly, his value to FSU is in the batter’s box and potentially at first base, full stop.
The two-way stuff is worth monitoring, but don’t expect it to be a major factor in how the Noles deploy him. He’s here to add offense to a lineup that needs it. Home runs were down 25% this season, and FSU’s team average dropped below .300. The offense struggled, and this is the kind of addition that could pay dividends in getting it back on track.
There is also a family tie worth mentioning. His sister, Shelby McKenzie, is entering her junior season with FSU softball, so there’s already a connection to the campus.
His background adds depth to the profile. The Mississippi State stint (11 games, three starts in 2024) and the JUCO year at Gulf Coast State (.303 with five homers in 45 games in 2025) show a player who took a winding route but kept producing. The FAMU breakout this season was clearly what put him on FSU’s radar, and the jump from SWAC to ACC is a legitimate leap. But the tools are there to make it work.
For a program that needed a bat and a body at first base, Jackson McKenzie is a quality option. Jarrett has shown he can develop portal additions quickly, and McKenzie already has the power profile to make an impact in the lineup from day one. Thanks for reading and Go Noles!