Jamie Arnold was selected with the No. 11 overall pick of the MLB draft by the Athletics on Sunday, the first Florida State pitcher selected in the first round since 2014.
Arnold went 8-2 with a 2.98 ERA as FSU’s ace in 2025. The junior left-hander had 119 strikeouts and just 27 walks in 84.2 innings. Opposing batters hit just .208 off Arnold.
While often projected as a top-10 pick, Arnold was quickly snapped up by the Athletics (who now play in Sacramento and will be in Las Vegas in 2028).
“I met with them at the combine and also before the season,” Arnold said on a Zoom with Athletics beat writers after the draft. “Had great conversations. Coming into this I kind of knew my range of picks, obviously I knew there was a chance to go to the A’s. I’m super blessed to be in this situation.”
The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Arnold was widely considered as a top-10 pick in a number of mock drafts due to his command (a 4.4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio) and mix of pitches. Arnold’s fastball has been clocked as high as 97 mph, and his slider was viewed as among the best in college baseball this spring.
Arnold was asked how quickly he thought he could move up through the A’s organization and push for a spot on the MLB roster.
“It's not in my hands but I feel confident enough that I can pitch in the bigs next week,” Arnold said. “If it were up to me, I'd like to pitch up there as soon as I can.”
Eric Kubota, the Athletics’ Director of Scouting, said the organization isn’t putting pressure or a timeframe on Arnold moving through the system.
“His performance will dictate to us,” Kubota said. “But I will say he is one of the most polished college pitchers that was in the draft this year. If anybody could move quickly, he’s the type of profile that could do it. Where we stand right now I don’t think we have any necessary timeline in our minds other than he’ll get there when he’s ready.”
Arnold is the highest drafted FSU pitcher since Jonathan Johnson was selected seventh in 1995.
FSU now has a trio of first-round picks in the last two MLB Drafts. James Tibbs (SF Giants) and Cam Smith (Chicago Cubs) were selected in 2024. Smith was traded to Houston and is already taking over in right field. Tibbs is playing in Double-A Portland (Maine) after his trade from the Cubs to Boston.
Arnold is the 12th FSU first-round pick since 2000, a list that also includes left-hander Sean Gilmartin (2011) and right-hander Luke Weaver (2014).
FSU shortstop Alex Lodise was among three more Seminoles selected later on Sunday night. Lodise was picked up at No. 60 (second round) by Atlanta. The LA Dodgers picked right-hander Cam Leiter at No. 65 (second round), and the Miami Marlins selected outfielder Max Williams at No. 78 (third round).
Rounds 4-20 will be held on Monday beginning at 11:30 a.m.
MLB teams have until July 28 at 5 p.m. ET to agree to deals with draft picks from four-year schools and high schools. His slot value is $5.99 million.
Arnold reflected on his FSU career and the MLB Draft in a Q&A with the Osceola.
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