FSU softball: Jaysoni Beachum joins rare air as National Player of the Year finalist

FSU softball (40-11, 18-3 ACC) is in a position to finish first in the ACC regular season, and one huge reason that's possible is freshman Jaysoni Beachum. FSU softball coach Lonni Alameda knew she would be dependent upon freshmen making major contributions in 2024 if the Noles were to avoid a steep dropoff after competing for a National Title in 2023. Isa Torres and Jaysoni Beachum have been huge for the Noles. Both ladies have had tremendous seasons thus far, but Beachum is in rarified air. The freshman has started all 51 games and was named a finalist for the NCAA Softball National Player of the Year. That means she's among the top 25 players in college softball. She might be the best as a freshman. No other offensive player in FSU history has had this honor. She leads the team in nearly every offensive category. 

She's batting .452, with 15 home runs and an FSU freshman record 62 RBI. Her on-base percentage is .528, and she's only committed five errors in 135 attempts at third base. She has only struck out 10 times while walking 26 and has been hit five times. How good is Beachum? Rival Florida walked Beachum last week to get one of the best hitters in FSU history Kalei Harding. Beachum hit a home run in his next at-bat, which proved it likely wasn't a terrible move, even though Harding made them pay with a base hit in her at-bat. Beachum ranks top 20 nationally in batting average, hits, RBI, on-base percentage, and total bases. Beachum is on pace to break the FSU season records in batting average and RBI. It's not like FSU has played a ton of scrubs this year. Beachum started the season red-hot and hasn't looked back. Whether she wins this award or not, her trajectory puts her in line to be one of the all-time greats in FSU softball history.