Florida State Announces 2014-15 Baseball Recruiting Class
By Patrik Nohe
FSU announced it’s 2014-15 baseball recruiting class today. The class features 17 members — 11 true freshmen, five junior college players and a transfer — and will look to replace a lot of quality players that FSU lost to the MLB Draft and college graduation last Summer.
“With the departures we suffered last year due to graduation and the draft, we see this class being able to step in and contribute right away because of the versatility and athleticism that each player possesses,” Florida State assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Mike Martin, Jr. said via a Florida State press release. “The ability of the pitchers to pitch in different roles will also be a key to our success and we feel that the crop of arms that we brought in will be able to do just that.
“We knew we were going to lose a lot from last year’s team and that was the key to this year’s class – to get guys in here that can contribute in a variety of ways. You always want to have a good balance of old and new players when it comes to having both JUCO and freshmen on the team. Having a handful of JUCO guys that have been through the rigors is very important especially having a guy like Marconcini, who played a lot in three seasons at Duke. We hope that with their experiences mixed with our returners that it will help bridge the learning gap for our incoming freshmen.”
Here’s a closer look at the 2014-15 baseball recruiting class [all information via FSU’s press release]:
Boomer Biegalski, Tallahassee, FL (Central Florida State College)
Sophomore, RHP, R/R, 6-2, 165
*1st Team FCSAA Mid-Florida Conference accolades
*2nd Team FCSAA All-State
Martin, Jr. on Biegalski:
"“An All-State honoree, Boomer is a very polished right handed pitcher. He put on some good weight during the off season. His fastball ranges between 90-92 MPH, a pitch he locates very well; Boomer will back that fastball with a very good slider and change-up. We expect Boomer to come in and contribute right away.”"
Dylan Busby, Sarasota, FL (Sarasota High School)
Freshman, SS, S/R, 6-3, 185
*FACA All-Star
*1st Team All-Area
*Perfect Game National Ranking: 195
Martin, Jr. on Busby:
"“Dylan is a right handed hitter with a professional looking physique. He is very long and lanky with wiry strength. Dylan runs very well and should make an immediate impact. He displays above average defensive skills as an infielder.”"
Drew Carlton, Lakeland, FL (George Jenkins High School)
Freshman, RHP, R/R, 6-1, 207
*1st Team All-State as a senior
*Three time 1st Team All-Polk County (2012, 2013, 2014)
*Perfect Game 2013 Underclass 2nd Team
*Perfect Game National Ranking: 173
Martin, Jr. on Carlton:
"“Drew reminds me a lot of former Seminole pitcher Blair Varnes. His pitch ability is off the charts with a fastball between 90-91, a good breaking ball and a change-up that he can throw any time he wants. Drew is a great competitor, who we expect great things from this year.”"
Alex Deise, St. Petersburg Beach, FL (St. Petersburg College / Mississippi State University)
Redshirt Sophomore, LHP, L/L, 6-3, 190
*2nd Team All-Suncoast Conference
*Suncoast Conference Fireman of the Year
*FSCAA Fireman of the Year
Martin, Jr. on Deise:
"“Alex has put up numbers everywhere he has been. He will see time in relief especially in late-inning situations. Alex will throw a fastball between 89-91 MPH with a change-up that is a plus, plus pitch for him.”"
Timmy Delph, Bartow, FL (Bartow High School)
Freshman, OF, R/R, 5-10, 165
*Three-time 1st Team All-Polk County
*Led Polk County in steals as a senior
Martin, Jr. on Delph:
"“The brother of senior Josh Delph. Timmy is a right handed swinger who is very athletic. He runs well, throws well and had a very good on-base percentage in high school. Timmy can play any of the three outfield spots.”"
Taylor Folsom, Doerun, GA (Tiftarea Academy High School)
Freshman, LHP, L/L, 6-3, 185
*3A All-Region as a senior
*3A All-State as a senior
*Member of the 3A Senior All-Star Team
Martin, Jr. on Folsom:
"“Taylor is a sidearm pitcher from the left side that will remind many of former Seminole great Randy Choate. He will be extremely valuable out of the bullpen for us this year. His fastball ranges anywhere from 85 to 87 MPH with a wipeout slider.”"
Cobi Johnson, Holiday, FL (JW Mitchell High School)
Freshman, RHP, R/R, 6-4, 190
*2013 Perfect Game AFLAC All-American
*2013 Under Armour All American
*2014 Preseason All-American from Louisville Slugger, Maxpreps, Baseball America
*Perfect Game National Ranking: 29
*Drafted 35th Round by San Diego Padres
Martin, Jr. on Johnson:
"“A right handed pitcher who was a top 20 recruit out of high school. Cobi had a strong desire to go to college. He is a very intelligent pitcher with a fastball that can get up to 93, 94 MPH. Mix in a breaking ball and a change-up and the ceiling on this kid is incredibly high.”"
Andrew Karp, Winter Garden, FL (West Orange High School)
Freshman, RHP, R/R, 6-3, 210
*2014 Perfect Game 3rd Team Preseason All-American
*2014 Perfect Game 1st Team Florida All-Region Preseason selection
*2013 Perfect Game 1st Team Underclassmen All-American
*Perfect Game National Ranking: 160
Martin, Jr. on Karp:
"“A right handed pitcher who threw in a lot of big games in high school. Andrew is the epitome of a strike thrower. He shows great competitiveness as no situation seems to faze him. He will throw his fastball anywhere from 90 to 92 MPH.”"
Hayden Kelly, Inverness, FL (Polk State College)
Junior, 1B, L/R, 5-10, 210
*Three-time All-County selection
*Member of the Perfect Game Collegiate Summer League All-Star team
Martin, Jr. on Kelly:
"“A left handed bat with very good power, Hayden is two-year JUCO player (one year at Polk State College, another at Pensacola State College) who is mature beyond years.”"
Chris Marconcini, Brentwood, TN (Duke University)
Graduate Student, 1B/ OF, L/L, 6-4, 230
*2014 2nd team All-ACC
*2011 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American
Martin, Jr. on Marconcini:
"“This is a guy that has been through the rigors of the ACC. Chris will be a great leader for us and will provide invaluable experience to a team that is very young. He can be used in a variety of ways playing both the outfield, infield and as a designated hitter. We feel our ballpark is made for him as a left handed hitter. He will be a great addition to our team this year.”"
Bret Maxwell, St. Petersburg, FL (Northeast High School)
Freshman, C, R/R, 5-11, 200
*2014 Under Armour All-American
*2014 Perfect Game All-Region 2nd Team
*2014 1st Team All-Pinellas County
*2014 1st Team All-Tampa Bay Area
*MVP of the Pinellas-Hillsborough Senior All-Star Challenge Game
*Perfect Game National Ranking: 294
Martin, Jr. on Maxwell:
"“A pure catcher who is a great receiver and can throw very well; a very solid baseball player across the board. He is very knowledgeable about the game and will do a very good job with our staff when he is behind the plate. Offensively, Bret will show some pop from the right side.”"
Darren Miller, Key West, FL (Key West High School)
Freshman, INF/C, R/R, 5-8, 180
*Four-year All-Monroe County Team
*2013 Monroe County Player of the Year
*2013 Miami Dade County District 16-4A Pitcher of the Year
*Perfect Game National Ranking: 295
Martin, Jr. on Miller:
"“Darren is coming off Tommy John surgery in April. He is an infielder that can also play catcher. The plan is to make him a catcher and to really utilize his versatility. Darren is a right handed hitter with a very polished approach at the plate.”"
Quincy Nieporte, Atlanta, GA (Tallahassee Community College)
Sophomore, 1B/C, R/R, 6-1, 225
*1st Team All-Panhandle Conference
*2nd Team All-State FSCAA
Martin, Jr. on Nieporte:
"“Quincy has some big time power and can use the whole field. He put up some very good numbers in the Panhandle Conference, which many consider to be the best conference in the JUCO ranks. He will remind FSU fans of a right handed hitting Ryan Bartholomew.”"
Jackson Owens, Lake Dallas, TX (Lake Dallas High School)
Freshman, INF, R/R, 6-0, 190
*2014 1st Team All-State
*Four-year Honor Roll student
Martin, Jr. on Owens:
"“Jackson is a guy that came in and lit-up camp. He is very strong with a compact body. An athletic kid with above average speed that will be used in a variety of ways thanks to his versatility.”"
Derek Vail, Gainesville, FL (Santa Fe College)
Junior, RHP, R/R, 6-4, 195
*NJCAA Academic All-American
*NJCAA Exemplary Academic Achievement Award
*Member of the FCSAA All-Star Game in 2014
Martin, Jr. on Vail:
"“Derek is another sidearm thrower but from the right side. He only walked a handful of players in two years at Santa Fe College. Derek will remind Seminole fans of Gage Smith, a person that will locate with his fastball. We are expecting him to contribute out of the bullpen right away.”"
Taylor Walls, Cordele, GA (Crisp County High School)
Freshman, SS, S/R, 5-10, 180
*2014 All- Area Player of the Year
*Four-time 1st Team All-Region
*1st Team All-State (2013 & 2014)
*2nd Team All-State (2011 & 2012)
*Perfect Game National Ranking: 486
Martin, Jr. on Walls:
"“Taylor can play shortstop or second base. He has tremendous range and Cadillac quickness with a cannon for an arm. He is a switch hitter that can really handle the bat. A great runner and overall good player who we expect big things from now and in the future.”"
Steven Wells, Key West, FL (Key West High School)
Freshman, OF/RHP, R/R, 6-2, 175
*2014 1st Team All-State
* 1st Team All-County (2011 & 2013)
*Perfect Game National Ranking – Top 500
Martin, Jr. on Wells:
"“A two-way guy that can pitch and play any of the three outfield spots. Steven will be a very valuable pitcher in relief for us this season. His fastball can get up to 93 MPH as he will mix in a nice slider and change-up. He just started pitching, so his ceiling is extremely high.”"