Trey Beard said it was “an easy conversation.” Not long after the Florida Atlantic left-hander entered the transfer portal, Florida State coach Link Jarrett and pitching coach Micah Posey made contact.
A native of Dunedin, Florida, Beard was very familiar with FSU. He had a sister and cousin who graduated from the school. Beard also competed against Tampa baseball stars like Jamie Arnold, Joey Volini and Wes Mendes — who all went on to pitch for the Seminoles — with the first two being selected in the MLB draft last summer and the third assuredly a member of the 2026 team’s weekend rotation.
“Seeing their success, it just felt right,” Beard said. “It just made sense to me.”
How Beard pitches makes sense to the Seminoles, too. Beard had 118 strikeouts and just 32 walks in 86 innings in 2025 at Florida Atlantic with a 7-1 record, 3.14 ERA and seeing opposing batters hit just .199 off of the all-AAC sophomore.
Mendes and Beard are front runners to be in FSU’s weekend rotation when the season opens on Feb. 13 against James Madison at Dick Howser Stadium. The Seminoles could again feature a lefty-heavy rotation, especially if Payton Manca continues to build off an impressive summer in the Cape Cod League.
Jarrett was definitive in saying those three are not set as the weekend rotation but said they “have been consistent. Their stuff is different.”
Virginia transfer right-hander Bryson Moore is also in the mix, with Jarrett praising his consistency and work ethic. It’s plausible Moore or Manca could be the midweek starter.
Jarrett didn’t hesitate when asked what stands out about Beard.
“Change-up is good. Change-up is unbelievable,” Jarrett said. “And the comfort is throwing it left on left. The slider has gotten better. The fastball command has gotten better. The velo, we’ll continue to see that tick up a little bit. We’ve gotten to some 92s, and that’s probably enough. But the ability to throw that change-up with very consistent hand speed and have such separation. It’s in the mid 70s, so we’re talking 15 miles an hour off with great hand speed.
“If you telegraph that and slow things down or open up your torso, people know that it’s coming. He does not do that. I’ve learned that that thing is a weapon.”
Beard also throws a fastball, curveball and slider. While his fastball isn’t overpowering Beard has a mix of pitches that allows him to be effective. And Beard says he’s not one to waste pitches, instead going on the attack.
“Trying to go right at hitters,” Beard said. “I try to be efficient on the mound. I feel like each hitter, try to give them three of your best pitches and try to get them out of the box. That’s what I was taught when I was young. I just try to be as efficient as possible. Every pitch in the zone. I think that’s when it works the best.”
That sounds a lot like Arnold, who had 119 strikeouts, just 27 walks and allowed 63 hits in 84.2 innings in 2025. Beard was asked if he views himself as replacing Arnold.
Those are lofty expectations, and Beard has already been recognized by Perfect Game as a preseason first-team All-American. But Beard said replacing Arnold is not his goal.
“I’m not going to try to be anyone else,” Beard said. “I’m going to try and be myself. It’s coming to a program that’s known for winning and I feel like that’s the goal this year – to win.”
Around the bases
Jarrett said freshman right-hander Braxton Varnes would miss the season due to injury. Varnes was 5-0 with a 0.97 ERA as a senior at Santa Rosa Beach (Florida) South Walton High. He’s the son of FSU alum Blair Varnes, who had 41 wins in Tallahassee and was the top freshman in the nation in 1999.
FSU’s top catchers continue to battle injuries in the preseason. Hunter Carns and Nathan Cmyela “haven’t been healthy,” Jarrett said. But he thinks both will be available in two weeks for the opening series. Jarrett said the Seminoles have leaned on junior college catcher Kaden Frommelt, who played at Des Moines Area (Iowa) CC, in the preseason.
Jarrett cautioned a few times that he hasn’t nailed down a batting order or rotation. In the field, as Jarrett often does in the preseason, he’s done a healthy amount of cross training. Third baseman Cal Fisher has worked at shortstop, and Jarrett has praised sophomore Gabe Fraser (an Arkansas transfer) for his versatility. Freshman John Stuetzer was exclusively an outfielder in fall exhibitions but has also worked out at infield spots. Sophomore Noah Sheffield is also in the mix as an infielder or outfielder on what appears to be a deep roster.
ACC preseason poll
FSU is third in the ACC preseason poll, which was released on Thursday. Georgia Tech, led by FSU alum James Ramsey, was first with 237 points and seven first-place votes.
North Carolina followed with 236 points and six first-place votes, followed by FSU at 221 points and one first-place vote. Louisville (196 points) and Clemson (185 points, two first-place votes) round out the top 5.
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