The MLB scouts were watching Florida State very closely the past few years. And that focus was often on the mound.
Six FSU pitchers were selected in the July 2025 draft — first-rounder Jamie Arnold, Joey Volini, Peyton Prescott, Evan Chrest, Maison Martinez and Cam Leiter — as part of a school-record 11 selections in the 20-round draft. Even removing Leiter, who missed the season due to an offseason surgery, that’s an impressive achievement for the players and for the coaching staff who helped them develop.
It's a tall task for coach Link Jarrett and pitching coach Micah Posey. But they’ve also been able to develop pitchers through the years as well as recruit talent (high school, junior college and transfers).
A safe bet: left-handers Wes Mendes and Trey Beard will be in the weekend rotation. Mendes (7-3, 5.42 ERA) had 90 strikeouts in 78 innings, although his walks (39) and home runs allowed (11) were on the high side. Beard (7-1, 3.14 ERA) was Florida Atlantic’s starter on Fridays and had 118 strikeouts in 86 innings with 32 walks. He held hitters to a .199 batting average.
Who’s the third starter? Jarrett discussed Virginia transfer right-hander Bryson Moore as one option.
“Very consistent since day one,” Jarrett said. “It's upside, stuff, good four or five pitches, understands what he's doing. So if you have lefties, do you sandwich a righty in between the lefties? How do you structure going into the first weekend, and what does that allow for the midweek?”
Jarrett and Posey will sort through their options in the coming weeks as far as how to fill defined roles (No. 3 starter, midweek starter, long reliever, closer, etc.) ahead of the opening series against James Madison that begins on Feb. 13. With so much uncertain, we won’t try to pencil in who fits where but instead will list the right-handers and left-handers before jumping in to Jarrett’s thoughts.
Left-handers
Trey Beard (6-2, 185) — Junior transfer from FAU
Wes Mendes (6-1, 198) — Junior
Payton Manca (6-6, 255) — Sophomore
Kevin Mebil (6-0, 180) — Junior transfer from Forrest Hill Community
Cooper Whited (6-1, 205) — Junior transfer from Gulf Coast State (Panama City)
Jacob Marlowe (6-0, 185) — Senior, will miss 2026 season due to Tommy John surgery
Right-handers
John Abraham (6-3, 198) — Junior Cole Stokes (6-6, 230) — Junior transfer from Oregon
Bryson Moore (6-3, 215) — Junior transfer from Virginia
Braxton Varnes (6-3, 210) — Freshman
Ben Barrett (6-4, 221) — Senior
Brodie Purcell (6-3, 200) — Junior transfer from Southern Cal
Chris Knier (5-11, 182) — Junior
Jake Echols (6-4, 170) — Junior transfer from Polk State College
Cade O’Leary (6-4, 190) — Sophomore transfer from Mississippi State
Rhett Vaughn (6-3, 224) — Freshman
Gabe Nard (5-11, 190) — Senior transfer from Duke
Cam Odom (6-0, 180) — Freshman
Manny Lantigua (6-0, 192) — Freshman (also listed as an infielder)
The goal is for FSU to find 10 pitchers
FSU’s pitching staff is definitely weighted toward right-handers, especially with the unfortunate news that Jacob Marlowe will spend the season working his way back from Tommy John surgery. But FSU has plenty of pitchers with college experience, and Jarrett says the goal is to develop 10 who can contribute in various roles.
“We're building up 10 arms,” Jarrett said. “Not everybody’s going to get to 65, 70, 75 pitches in the preseason. Our hope is that as we go through the next four or five weeks, we do get to a spot where we have a handful that are ready to throw 70 or 75 pitches on opening day, opening weekend.”
How was FSU evaluating transfer pitchers?
With so many draft picks, Jarrett and Posey knew they had to dive into the evaluations (film and personalities) of transfer pitchers. The Seminoles landed Beard (FAU), Moore (Virginia), Cole Stokes (Oregon), Brodie Purcell (Southern Cal), Cade O’Leary (Mississippi State) and Gabe Nard (Duke).
“The recruiting is tricky, and you fight and recruit as hard as you can,” Jarrett said. “And then you get into the transfer thing in the summer, and you're battling a lot of really capable programs. You try to present your developmental plan for them, talk about the culture of the program. And then when it's over, when the dust settles, you see where you are.”
Recruiting is made easier by the success of Arnold and other pitchers. It also helps that Posey has a track record of developing MLB Draft picks.
FSU also made an investment in renovating the old batting cages and pitching mound, closing in the facility down the right-field line. Posey has Trackman and Driveline technology to help pitchers receive data to help their progress.
“We put so much emphasis on the development of pitching and the facility and the construction, the modification, the upgrading,” Jarrett said. “What we've done is to help our current players and also attract recruits, because some of these guys visit four or five schools in a spurt in the summer, and then they make their choice. So what they see, what they feel, the relationship with the pitching coach and myself goes a long way.”
Purcell tossed four shutout innings in a pair of fall exhibition outings (vs. Mississippi State at Pensacola and the garnet and gold game).
Thoughts on some of FSU’s pitchers
Jarrett offered up thoughts on a large number of FSU’s pitchers. One of them is Stokes, who is 6-6 and has a fastball that could hit 100. Control has been an issue for him at Oregon with 39 strikeouts but also 31 walks in 20 innings. Stokes also throws a slider and a curveball, and he likely factors in as a reliever.
“The upside is just spectacular with him,” Jarrett said. “… When it clicks, it's going to be very, very dynamic. I think he's going to throw 100 miles an hour. He's been close. It’s going to happen.”
Nard graduated from Duke in the winter, so he didn’t pitch in FSU’s fall ball games. As a reliever in 27 of 29 games in 2025, Nard had 45 strikeouts in 50.2 innings with a 4.62 ERA. He has 81 appearances in his three seasons.
“Heavy sink, run on the fastball. As much experience as you could ask,” Jarrett said. “… We wanted him to finish at Duke. He needed to get that degree. Get that in his back pocket. He's got that, and now he's here.”
Jarrett also mentioned Manca, who “has continued to take strides. Big, physical. There's a lot there.”
Abraham’s change-up is sharper and his fastball velocity is up, Jarrett said. FSU’s coach also has seen Barrett develop these last few years and says “nobody works harder than that guy.” Barrett has “good sink and movement” although command of his pitches has been an issue for him through the years.
Thanks for reading the Osceola. Subscribe now for less than $60 annually to enjoy a full year of coverage of FSU athletics. You’ll also earn a $15 gift card at the Osceola’s merch store.
