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Trey Beard (Photo courtesy Florida State)

The 2026 college baseball season is almost here. As such, we’re breaking down every preseason Top 25 team in greater detail. Check out Florida State’s 2026 season preview below.

Quick Hits

Last Season: 42-16 (17-10 ACC); Eliminated in Corvallis Super Regional

Final 2025 Ranking: No. 11

Coach (Record at school): Link Jarrett (114-64, 4th season)

College Baseball Top 25 Skinny

Link Jarrett’s tenure at Florida State has accelerated quickly. An unsightly 23-31 start in 2023 now reads as prologue after consecutive deep postseason runs, including a College World Series appearance in 2024 and a super regional trip last spring. That progress reshaped both perception and investment, earning Jarrett a raise that placed him among the five highest-paid coaches in the country and the highest-compensated non-SEC skipper.

The Seminoles enter 2026 facing meaningful turnover, most notably the loss of ace Jamie Arnold, but the broader structure remains intact. Florida State again profiles as a pitching-driven team with a roster built to withstand attrition, pairing depth on the mound with an offense led by one of the nation’s premier power bats.

Florida State Baseball Strengths

The strength of this roster is the pitching staff’s ability to absorb losses without collapse. Losing Arnold and No. 2 starter Joey Volini stripped Florida State of one of the nation’s most effective duos, but Jarrett responded decisively through the portal, landing former Florida Atlantic lefthander Trey Beard, one of the most sought-after arms available. Beard brings strikeout production and deception, having punched out 118 batters against 32 walks across 86 innings in 2025. His arrival stabilizes the front of the rotation and provides a different look in an ACC environment defined by velocity.

The staff’s depth extends beyond Beard. Junior Wes Mendes returns, while transfers Bryson Moore, Brodie Purcell and Cole Stokes lengthen a group built to manage innings and matchups across a demanding schedule. That pitching base allows Florida State to operate with margin. Jarrett has shown a consistent ability to build staffs that survive both the ACC grind and postseason pressure, and this group again fits that profile.

Florida State Baseball Weaknesses

Offensive certainty thins quickly beyond the top. First baseman Myles Bailey provides a clear anchor after producing elite exit velocities and hitting 19 home runs as a freshman in 2025. Even with strikeout concerns, his power profile gives Florida State a middle-of-the-order presence few teams can match. Beyond Bailey, questions multiply.

Catcher Hunter Carns returns after a strong offensive season, and third baseman Cal Fisher and outfielder Chase Williams provide experience, with Williams adding value on the bases. Past that, the picture blurs. Outfielder Brody DeLamielleure flashed power but hit .245, while USC transfer Brayden Dowd faces a significant jump after producing in the Big Ten. Freshmen Kelvyn Paulino and John Stuetzer impressed in the fall, but relying on first-year players carries inherent risk.

Florida State Baseball Player To Know

Beard enters the season as one of the more distinctive arms in college baseball. He features the highest release point among lefthanders who pitched in Division I last year and pairs it with advanced offspeed feel, driving a 33.7% strikeout rate. Velocity is not his calling card, and the ACC presents a stiffer test, but evaluators remain optimistic as he steps onto a larger stage.

Florida State Baseball 2026 Projected Lineup, Rotation

PosPlayerYearAVGOBPSLGABHRRBINote/previous schoolCHunter CarnsSo..286.379.4811336151BMyles BaileySo..327.441.66320219562BKelvyn PaulinoFr.IMG Academy3BCal FisherJr..303.411.489188837SSGabe FraserSo..250.339.36552112ArkansasOFBrayden DowdJr..324.446.5242251036Southern CaliforniaOFChase WilliamsJr..342.394.474114220OFBrody DeLamielleureR-So..245.280.464110621DHJohn StuetzerFr.Pope HS (Marietta, GA.)PosYearGSIPERAWHIPSO%BB%SPTrey BeardJr.1586.03.141.0833.7%9.1%Florida AtlanticSPWes MendesJr.1678.05.421.4026.3%11.4%SPBryson MooreJr.418.13.441.2027.3%10.4%VirginiaRPBrodie PurcellJr.042.22.111.0529.7%11.0%Southern CaliforniaRPJohn AbrahamJr.133.04.641.7026.4%15.1%RPCole StokesJr.020.13.101.2338.6%15.8%Oregon