Former FSU baseball star Alex Lodise starts professional career with a bang

Great start to his professional career!
Florida St. infielder Alex Lodise (1) reacts to his double at second base during the first inning of an NCAA college baseball matchup Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at VyStar Ballpark in Jacksonville, Fla. FSU rallied to defeat UF 8-4 off a walk-off grand slam from Alex Lodise in the ninth inning.
Florida St. infielder Alex Lodise (1) reacts to his double at second base during the first inning of an NCAA college baseball matchup Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at VyStar Ballpark in Jacksonville, Fla. FSU rallied to defeat UF 8-4 off a walk-off grand slam from Alex Lodise in the ninth inning. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

FSU baseball tied a record with 11 players selected in the 2025 MLB Draft. ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year Alex Lodise was the second FSU player to come off the board when the Atlanta Braves selected him with the No. 60 overall pick.

He signed rather quickly for around 1.3 million (which was slightly below his slot value) and placed in high Class-A ball with the Rome Emperors.

Lodise made his professional debut on Friday night, nearly hitting for the cycle and driving in three runs. If you'll recall, Lodise became the first player to hit for the cycle earlier this year to walk-off the rival Florida Gators, with the home run being a grand slam to complete it.

Lodise won the Dick Howser Trophy as college baseball's best player, but got robbed of the Golden Spikes Award (best amateur player) at the end of the season. His performance in the postseason wasn't the best, but it looks like he has rectified his issues at the plate.

The swings we see in the video from Friday night are the adjustments he needed to make in the post season. When Lodise drives the ball up the middle and to right centerfield, he was one of the most dangerous hitters in college baseball.

His defense is superb, and I expect him to rise through the minors quickly, as long as he continues to hit the ball like this. He's already in high Class-A ball.

He is a testament to the player development with FSU baseball since Link Jarrett took over the program three years ago. Lodise was a Freshman All-American at North Florida before transferring to FSU. However, the difference in his production there and at FSU is night and day.

He'll be someone you'll want to track through the minors if you're an FSU fan.