Florida State baseball will have more holes to fill than fans realize going into 2027. I literally posted that about one minute before the announcement that freshman Kelvyn Paulino Jr. plans to enter the transfer portal.
FSU SS Kelvyin Paulino Jr. is entering the transfer portal, according to @_aroundthehorn_ and me.
— Andrew Riedell (@RiedellAndrew) June 2, 2026
His freshman year at FSU was solid, hitting .275 with six doubles, two triples, a home run, and 21 RBIs. pic.twitter.com/vLgVCbIoDQ
It's not a big of a loss as some fans may think. I wish him well wherever he lands.
Many fans think Florida State is flush with young talent who can emerge as major contributors in 2027. While it’s possible, it’s not likely, which is why you see a player like Paulino Jr. entering the transfer portal. If he were ready to be a contributor, he would have been able to stay in the lineup like John Stuetzer.
He made 26 starts and batted .276. Paulino Jr. has potential, but his hitting stopped around the time that ACC play began, and he never found his way back into the lineup. He also didn't really have a spot on the field where he was a difference-maker on defense.
He didn't show much power and would probably get passed over by a transfer portal player. Paulino need more time to develop, especially physically, as he only had one home run in 105 at-bats.
He's a player who could become an impact player two years from now. However, Florida State needs guys who can make an impact immediately with what they could potentially lose to the MLB Draft and/or the transfer portal.
That was probably the conversation Link Jarrett had with him. He hadn't really played regularly since the Stanford series debacle, aside from a pinch hit appearance against Miami. He was 0-13 in the last five games he played in with five strikeouts.
This probably seems alarming for some Florida State fans, but it's going to be the nature of the beast moving forward. If freshmen come in and don't perform, coaches don't have time to babysit and wait 2-3 years for players to develop.
As mentioned, Florida State has too many guys on the roster who are of the same mold on offense. They need guys who can change the numbers on the scoreboard more often than not, especially if the strikeout numbers are going to be up. I suspect we'll see more guys entering the portal sooner than later.
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