FSU baseball 2025 season preview: 3 biggest games, key players, predictions and more
FSU Baseball made a strong comeback in 2024 after a disappointing 2023 season in which they finished last in the ACC regular season. Link Jarrett's side finished third in the Atlantic division with a 17-12 conference record and made the ACC Tournament championship game, which they lost to the Duke Blue Devils.
They made the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years, earning the No. 8 national seed. They followed that up with an impressive postseason, winning the Tallahassee Regional and Tallahassee Super Regional en route to making their first College World Series appearance since 2019.
The Seminoles were just one step away from making the College World Series finals, but lost to the eventual champions, the Tennessee Volunteers, in the final game of Bracket 1. They finished the season with a remarkable 49-17 record.
Jarrett and the Seminoles will be keen on maintaining their progress in 2025. However, the loss of stars like James Tibbs III and Jaime Ferrer to the MLB Draft poses a challenge that the program needs to overcome during the off-season. Here, we preview FSU Baseball ahead of the 2025 NCAA Baseball season.
3 key games for FSU Baseball in the 2025 season
3. Miami Hurricanes
The rivalry between the Seminoles and the Hurricanes ranks among the fiercest in NCAA Baseball history. The two teams have made 49 appearances in the College World Series combined, with the Hurricanes just one ahead of the Seminoles.
FSU Baseball leads the head-to-head 162-136-4 following a clean sweep in a three-game series during the 2024 season. With the Hurricanes keen on getting revenge in 2025, this could be an explosive series next year.
2. Florida Gators
FSU Baseball leads its all-time head-to-head against Florida 134-127-1 and swept the Gators in a three-game series this year. However, the Gators have strengthened their roster with some smart additions during the off-season. With both teams dreaming big, the Sunshine Showdown could become a series that fans cannot miss in 2025.
1. North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels stormed their way to the ACC regular season title with a 22-8 conference record. Should the Seminoles hope to win their first regular season title since 2012, they will need to overcome the threat of the Tar Heels, who have improved immensely under head coach Scott Forbes.
Key players for the Florida State Seminoles in 2025
3. Evan Chrest, RHP
FSU Baseball bolstered its rotation by signing Jacksonville ace Evan Chrest from the transfer portal. He excelled on the mound for the Dolphins, finishing with a 10-6 record while recording 172 strikeouts with an ERA of 4.41 in 159.1 innings pitched across two seasons.
He currently ranks 61st in D1Baseball's top 100 prospects for next year's MLB draft per FSU Wire and could make a big impact in Tallahassee next season, providing Jarrett with a reliable starter alongside the highly talented Jamie Arnold.
2. Max Williams, OF
Williams starred at the plate for the Seminoles in 2024. He recorded 14 home runs and 46 RBI with an average of .311 in 64 games played. With the Seminoles losing some of their major hitters in this year's draft, Williams will be expected to play a key role in their hitting line-up next year.
He currently ranks 24th in the top prospects for next year's draft and will be keen to produce an excellent junior season to earn a call-up from the major leagues.
1. Jamie Arnold, LHP
Arnold is arguably the best player on the FSU Baseball 2025 roster. He was phenomenal on the mound this past year, finishing the season 11-3 while recording 159 strikeouts with an ERA of 2.98 in 105.2 innings pitched. The Seminoles will expect the junior to lead their rotation next year as he chases his MLB dream.
Arnold currently ranks third in the top prospects for next year's draft, and is highly likely to be a first-round pick should he maintain his momentum in the 2025 season.
Predicting Florida State Seminoles' 2025 season
Arnold's form next season is likely to be a major factor in how FSU Baseball fares next season. Besides keeping a few of their key players from this season, they have also made some clever additions to cover some gaps in their roster.
The Seminoles are likely to enjoy another strong regular season and are likely to earn a top-10 seed in the postseason. They are among the favorites to make it to Omaha but will need to stay at their very best to make the finals for the first time in the 21st century.