Florida St Baseball: A Look at the Team’s Must-Have Players
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As the Florida State Seminoles gear up for another season of college baseball let’s take a look at some of the team’s Must-Have Players These are the guys who will be key to the Seminoles’ success on the diamond this year.
Introduction
The Florida State Seminoles baseball team is one of the most consistently successful programs in the country. The team has made the NCAA tournament every year since 1980 and has won two National Championships in 1987 and 1999. Head Coach Mike Martin is the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history, and the Seminoles have had more than their fair share of success in recent years making it to the College World Series four times since 2000.
With all of this success, it’s no surprise that Florida State has produced a number of Major League Baseball players. In fact, there are currently eight Seminoles in the big leagues including two All-Stars: Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters and Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the eight Seminole MLB players and what they bring to their respective teams. We’ll also touch on some of the other notable Florida State alums who didn’t quite make it to the show but have had successful professional careers nonetheless.
Pitching
In baseball, pitching is the key to success A good pitcher can make or break a game, and a good pitching staff is vital to any team’s chances of winning. The Florida State Seminoles are no different. They have a strong pitching staff that includes some of the best pitchers in the country. Here are five of the team’s must-have pitchers.
1. Tyler Holton: The ace of the Seminoles’ pitching staff, Holton is a hard-throwing lefty who has been one of the best pitchers in the country over the past two seasons. He was named ACC Pitcher of the Year in 2016 and was a First Team All-American in 2017. Holton is a dominant force on the mound, and he has the ability to shut down any lineup he faces.
2. Cole Sands: Another hard-throwing lefty, Sands is one of the most underrated pitchers in the country. He doesn’t get a lot of publicity because he doesn’t pitch for a power school like Florida State but make no mistake about it, Sands is one of the best pitchers in college baseball He was named second team All-American by Baseball America in 2017 and was also named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award which is given to the best amateur baseball player in the country.
3. Alec Byrd: A right-hander with a big arm, Byrd has been one of Florida State’s most consistent pitchers over the past two seasons. He doesn’t have overwhelming stuff, but he knows how to pitch and gets batters out consistently. Byrd was named third team All-American by Baseball America in 2017 and was also named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
4. Cobi Johnson: The son of former Major League pitcher Dave Stewart Johnson has big shoes to fill but he has more than lived up to expectations thus far in his collegiate career. Johnson is a big, physical right-hander with a plus fastball and cutter combination that helps him miss bats consistently. He was named ACC Pitcher of the Year in 2017 and was also named first team All-American by baseball America
5 . Drew Parrish Another lefty with Good Stuff Parrish rounds out Florida State’s Must Have Five list. Parrish doesn’t have overpowering stuff like some of his teammates, but he knows how to pitch and gets results on a consistent basis. He was named second team All-American by Baseball America in 2017 and was also named a semifinalist for
Catching
As the Florida State Seminoles Baseball Team heads into the 2020 season, there are a few Key Players that they will be relying on to help them make a run at the College World Series One of those players is junior catching prospect Matías Barría.
Barría, who hails from Santiago, Chile, came to Florida State as a highly-touted prospect and has not disappointed. In his two years with the Seminoles, he has hit .288/.353/.459 with 12 home runs and 54 RBI. He has also shown good discipline at the plate, walking 34 times while striking out just 54 times in 773 plate appearances.
Defensively, Barría has been excellent as well. He has thrown out 26% of would-be base stealers in his career and has committed just four errors in 548 chances (.993 fielding percentage).
The Seminoles will be counting on Barría to provide a steadying presence behind the plate this season as they look to make a deep run in the postseason.
Infield
As the Florida State Seminoles gear up for another season of baseball, let’s take a look at some of the team’s key players who will be manning the infield this year.
Shortstop Mikey Downs is one of the team’s most experienced players, and he is coming off a strong sophomore campaign in which he hit .276 with 19 stolen bases He will be looked to as a leader on this year’s team, both on and off the field.
First baseman Rhett Aplin was one of the team’s leading hitters last season, batting .305 with 8 home runs and 36 RBI. He has developed into one of the top power hitters in the ACC and will be counted on to provide some much-needed pop in the middle of the lineup.
Second baseman Dylan Busby had a breakout year as a freshman last season, hitting .280 with 7 home runs and 33 RBI. He has continued to develop his game during the offseason and should be even better this year. He will be counted on to provide solid defense up the middle and set the table for the Seminoles’ potent offense.
Third baseman John Nogowski had a strong junior campaign, hitting .296 with 6 Home Runs and 31 RBI. He has developed into one of the team’s best all-around players and will once again be counted on to anchor the Seminoles’ offense.
Outfield
Infielders may get all of the glory, but a good outfield is key to any baseball team’s success. Here’s a look at some of the Florida State Seminoles’ must-have players in the outfield for the upcoming season
Center fielder
The center fielder is perhaps the most important player in the outfield. They need to have a good arm to throw out runners, and they need to be able to track down fly balls They also need to be fast, so they can score runs on base hits.
Right fielder
The right fielder needs to have a good arm to throw out runners on first base. They also need to be able to hit for power, so they can drive in runs.
Left fielder
The Left fielder needs to have a good arm to throw out runners on first base. They also need to be able to hit for power, so they can drive in runs.
Designated Hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter (DH) is a player who bats in place of the pitcher. The position is authorized by Major League Baseball Rule 5.11, and was adopted by the American League in 1973. There is, however, no corresponding rule for the National League which has persisted with the tradition of having the pitcher bat.
A DH may enter the game as a pinch hitter for any player in the starting lineup (subject to normal substitution rules), except for the pitcher and catcher. If a team does not have a DH, or if its DH is injured and unable to play, its pitcher must bat whenever necessary. A pinch hitter for a DH that leaves before his turn to bat will take over as DH; Pinch hitters cannot be used for other fielders except in extenuating circumstances such as when several players have become incapacitated by an injury or ejection.
The use of a DH can significantly change how a team approaches offense, as well as how pitchers are used and substituted. In most leagues which use the DH, left-handed hitting pitchers tend to come out of games earlier because they are at a disadvantage facing right-handed hitters (who tend to be more common than left-handed hitters), while right-handed relievers are brought into games earlier due to their advantage against left-handed hitters.
Utility
utility players are a vital part of any baseball team They are the players who can fill in at multiple positions and provide valuable support to the starting lineup
The Florida State Seminoles baseball team is no different. They have a number of utility players who have been key to their success over the past few years.
One of those players is junior third baseman Dylan Busby. Busby has played all over the infield for the Seminoles, but he has found a home at third base. He is a solid defender with a strong arm and good range. offensively, he is one of the team’s best power hitters, belting out 18 home runs last season.
Another key utility player for the Seminoles is senior first baseman Quincy Nieporte. Nieporte has also played all over the infield, but he has settled in at first base. He is a great contact hitter with good power. He led the team in batting average (.327) and hits (81) last season.
Utility players are an important part of any Baseball Team because they provide valuable support to the Starting Lineup The Florida State Seminoles have two key utility players in Dylan Busby and Quincy Nieporte who have help lead the team to success over the past few years.
Rotation
The rotation is the heart of any Baseball team Without a good rotation, it is very difficult to win games. The Florida State Seminoles have a great rotation, led by junior right-hander Cole Sands. Sands is a workhorse who has pitched over 200 innings in each of his first two college seasons. He is followed in the rotation by sophomore left-hander Tyler Holton and junior right-hander Mike Compton. Both Holton and Compton are strikeout pitchers who have the ability to get hitters out with their stuff. The back of the rotation is rounded out by senior right-hander Boomer Biegalski and junior left-hander Alec Byrd. Biegalski is a crafty veteran who knows how to pitch, while Byrd is a young pitcher with a ton of potential. The Seminoles also have a few other pitchers who could see time in the rotation this season, but those five are the most likely to get the majority of the starts.
Bullpen
The Florida State Seminoles baseball team is one of the best in the country, and they have a strong bullpen to thank for that. Here are the three players that the team would be lost without.
1. Tyler Warmouth
He’s a lefty and he’s been closing games for the Seminoles since his freshman year. He’s got a powerful arm and he’s not afraid to use it, racking up an impressive number of strikeouts over his career.
2. Alec Byrd
Byrd is another lefty, but he’s more of a specialist, coming in to get key outs in tight situations. He’s been with the team for four years and he knows how to get the job done when it matters most.
3. JP Sears
Sears is a righty who transferred to Florida State from junior college last year. He immediately made an impact, becoming one of the most reliable arms out of the bullpen.
Conclusion
As the Florida State Seminoles head into the college baseball playoffs, there are a few players that the team will be relying on to help them make a run at the National Championship
RHP Cole Sands is one of the best pitchers in the country and will be counted on to anchor the Seminoles’ pitching staff. Additionally, 1B Rhett Aplin and OF DJ Stewart are two of the best hitters in the ACC and will be critical to Florida State’s offense.
The Seminoles have a talented roster and will be a tough out for any team in the postseason. If Florida State is able to get strong performances from Sands, Aplin, and Stewart, they will have a great chance at winning it all.