FSU baseball: Impact of JUCO outfielder Chase Williams commitment

FSU baseball coaches knew they had work to do once their run in the Men's College World Series ended. I wrote about the need for the coaching staff to address pitching depth in the bullpen and offensive firepower to replace the production lost by Cam Williams, James Tibbs, and Jaime Ferrer. The staff has taken a different approach than I thought, being they've relied mostly on acquiring talent from the JUCO ranks or smaller schools as opposed to talent entering the transfer portal from elite programs. FSU added its seventh JUCO addition late Sunday night when Northwest Florida State outfielder Chase Williams announced his commitment. Williams is originally from Alabama, playing one season in the JUCO ranks. Williams is listed as 5'10" and 170 pounds and is a switch hitter.

How Can He Impact The Noles in 2025?

Williams had nearly 200 at-bats, hitting .379 with a .473 on-base percentage. He stole 29 bases on 36 attempts and scored 71 runs in 55 games. He struck out 45 times and walked 31, with two home runs, eight doubles, and a triple, with 32 RBI. Williams was a 2024 FCSAA Gold Glover.

It's natural to question the competition one might have at the JUCO level. Still, the Northwest Florida State team made it to the JUCO DI Baseball Championship, losing to Blinn College in the finals. NW Florida State has a track record of sending talented guys to higher levels. Williams has a lot of tools and can impact the game in many ways. He's not a big power guy, but his on-base percentage and threat to steal can put major pressure on defenses. He plays with a lot of confidence, could be an ideal lead-off batter, and is a solid glove in the outfield. It seems Link Jarrett is trying to make up for a lack of power by obtaining guys with great speed and the ability to create havoc at the plate while placing a premium on defense. If the pitching staff is anywhere near what we think it could be, that might be a solid recipe to offset the lack of power they might have.