Florida State's baseball team is poised to kick off the 2025 season with great expectations, having been ranked sixth by Perfect Game's preseason top 25. The Seminoles will begin their season at home against James Madison on February 14, 2025. Just around eight weeks away from Opening Day, there is considerable buzz surrounding the squad.
The recent ranking marks a notable turnaround for FSU baseball, which entered the previous season without any national ranking after failing to qualify for the postseason under coach Link Jarrett's helm. The Seminoles reversed their fortunes significantly, recording 26 more wins than the prior season—this was the largest win improvement recorded among college baseball teams, showcasing how well the team adapted and grew through the season.
Last year’s team was characterized by its formidable offense, one of the most powerful seen at Florida State, featuring multiple first-round picks and strong left-handed pitchers on the mound spearheaded by starting ace Jamie Arnold. This year, the team faces the challenge of replacing several offensive powerhouses, including key hitters such as Cam Smith, James Tibbs, Marco Dinges, Jaime Ferrer, and Daniel Cantu. Nevertheless, the Seminoles retain core talent, including center fielder Max Williams and middle infielders Alex Lodise and Drew Faurot, which remains pivotal as they seek to fill the gaps left by their departed stars.
To bolster their roster, FSU has brought in several promising talents via transfers and recruitment. Gage Harrelson, transferring from Texas Tech, aims to bounce back and regain his form as he did during his freshman year. There are also several JUCO additions like Chase Williams, Blaydon Plain, and Carter McCulley, all of whom are expected to play integral roles on offense. The impact of highly-touted freshmen Hunter Carns and Myles Bailey is also anticipated—these newcomers will be key to determining the team's offensive ceiling this season.
On the pitching side, Micah Posey's staff returns its ace, Jamie Arnold, who is projected to be among the top 10 picks for the upcoming MLB draft. The pitching rotation is supplemented by strategic transfers from around the collegiate ranks, with key additions like Wes Mendes from Ole Miss and Joey Volini from USF, among others. Although the team faces questions about the return of key pitcher Cam Leiter, who has been sidelined due to injury since mid-March, the depth added via the transfer portal provides optimism.
The Seminoles' schedule for the upcoming season is challenging, featuring nine matchups against teams who participated in the College World Series as well as eight opponents who earned NCAA Tournament berths last year. Out of 54 games, 35 will take place at their home ground, Dick Howser Stadium, ensuring they play the majority of their games within the familiar surroundings of Florida.
Further rankings and evaluations are forthcoming as preseason assessments continue to come out. Florida State baseball fans have much to be excited about as the team gears up to take aim at both immediate success and longer-term aspirations under coach Jarrett's leadership. Expect updates on the new players and progress as the Seminoles strive to make noise during the college baseball season.