Top 5 Florida State batters of all time ft. JD Drew
As the Florida State Seminoles punched their ticket for Omaha, it's a good time to take an overview of the historic program. Now making their 24th College World Series appearance, the Seminoles have done everything in the sport except win a CWS title. But it's not for a lack of star power. Here are five big bats that have made FSU legendary.
Top 5 Florida State batters of all time
5. John-Ford Griffin (1999-2001)
Griffin hit a ridiculous .427 in his three seasons as a Seminole. His 2001 campaign earned All-American honors as Griffin hit .450 with 19 homers while also stealing 50 bases. FSU reached the College World Series in two of his three seasons.
Griffin was a first-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2001. He made it to MLB only briefly with the Toronto Blue Jays. He had 23 big league at bats, but hit .304 with a pair of homers. Griffin is now the hitting coordinator with the prestigious IMG Academy.
4. Jeff Ledbetter (1979-1982)
Ledbetter isn't a household name, but his Florida State numbers speak for themselves. The powerful outfielder is all over the FSU record book. He's the program's leader in hits (335), homers (97) and RBIs (346), among other marks. He hit 42 home runs in 1982 when he was named Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year.
A first-round pick of the Boston Red Sox, Ledbetter never rose above AA minor league ball. Known as "Treetops" at Florida State, he'll always be a Seminole legend.
3. Mike Fuentes (1978-1981)
In four years at FSU, Fuentes put up massive hitting numbers. He hit .408 in 1980 and increased his homer totals from 16 to 21 to 27. A career .373 hitter with 233 RBIs, Fuentes was chosen for the 1981 Golden Spikes Award.
Fuentes was a second-round pick of the Montreal Expos in 1981. He played professionally until 1987 but garnered only eight MLB at bats. A .273 minor league hitter, Fuentes slugged 150 minor league homers.
2. Buster Posey (2006-2008)
A three-year star at FSU, Posey batted .398 as a Seminole. His power game emerged in 2008 when he won the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Awards. The standout catcher hit .463 that season with 26 homers and 93 RBIs.
Chosen with the fifth pick of the 2008 MLB Draft, Posey played his entire career with the Giants. A career .302 hitter in MLB, Posey won the 2012 NL MVP award and was an All-Star seven times. He retired at just 34 years old.
1. JD Drew (1995-1997)
Drew might be the greatest college baseball player ever. Winner of the 1997 Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Awards, Drew was such a good prospect that he was drafted second overall in 2007 by the Phillies and when he refused to sign, was picked fifth in 2008 by the Cardinals.
A .391 career hitter at Florida State, Drew slugged 31 homers and picked up 100 RBIs in 1997 in just 67 games. He also stole 32 bases that year. A rare five-tool talent, Drew had both massive hype and even more massive production.
In MLB, Drew was a bit underwhelming after all. He was a .278 career hitter with 242 homers but was only an All-Star once. He retired at age 35, winning a late career World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox.
Which Florida State sluggers were your favorite? Share your opinions below in your comments section!