2026 MiLB Season in Review

Thirty-four Florida State baseball alumni played Minor League Baseball in 2026. That included three that also made their MLB debuts and seven that began their professional careers after being selected in the 2026 MLB Draft. Twelve players helped their teams to the playoffs, including several division or league titles. FSU players combined to earn a total of 35 promotions throughout Minor League Baseball.

James Tibbs III is having a historic season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets. While leading the Dodgers' affiliate to the postseason, he is the first Pacific Coast League player since 1982 with 100 or more RBI, runs and walks in a single season. Going into Wednesday's PCL playoff game, he ranks in the top-5 in the league in walks (108, 1st), home runs (30, 2nd), RBI (107, 2nd), runs (109, 2nd), slugging percentage (.532, 2nd) hits (150, 3rd), on-base percentage (.409, 4th), OPS (.941, 4th) and doubles (32, T-4th).

Alex Lodise and Max Williams are several players to earn numerous promotions this season. Williams rose from Single-A to High-A and then Double-A, hitting .300 or better at all three levels, including .353 in nine games at Double-A Pensacola. The No. 5 overall prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization, Lodise also was promoted twice up to AA. He had double-digit RBI and at least 24 hits at each stop, highlighted by a .343 average in High-A and 96 hits with 21 homers in 94 games at Single-A. In Double-A, Lodise drove in 12 runs with 26 hits in 23 games.

This year's MiLB success comes as at least seven players were drafted in three consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. Three or more players have been picked in the first three rounds three times in school history, highlighted by four in 2025 and three in 2026. Seven Seminoles have been selected in the first or second rounds since 2024, the most in a three-year stretch in team history. Eight players have been drafted in the first two rounds in head coach Link Jarrett's four seasons in Tallahassee, also a four-year program best.

Below is a breakdown of every FSU player to appear in an MiLB game in 2026, sorted alphabetically by level.

MLB
Jack Anderson – RHP

Boston Red Sox (MLB), Minnesota Twins (MLB), Worcester Red Sox (AAA), St. Paul Saints (AAA)
Made MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox on April 14
Appeared in 28 MiLB games at Triple-A with 79 strikeouts in 93.1 innings
In seven MLB games, has a 2.19 ERA in 12.1 innings pitched with one save, 12 strikeouts and a 2.19 ERA
Played for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic

Shane Drohan – LHP

Milwaukee Brewers (MLB), Nashville Sounds (AAA)
Made MLB debut with the Milwaukee Brewers on April 8
Appeared in three MiLB games at Triple-A with two starts and struck out 17 batters in 13.2 innings with a 3.29 ERA
In 32 MLB games with 19 starts, has a 7-5 record and one save with 121 strikeouts in 121.1 innings

CJ Van Eyk – RHP

Toronto Blue Jays (MLB), Buffalo Bisons (AAA)
Made MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays on July 17
Played in 24 Triple-A games with 18 starts and struck out 77 batters in 112.0 innings with a 1.29 WHIP
In five MLB games with the Blue Jays, made one start and has three strikeouts in 11.2 innings

Triple-A
Jamie Arnold – LHP

Las Vegas Aviators (AAA), Midland RockHounds (AA)
Appeared in 25 games, all starts, in Triple-A and Double-A, with 130 strikeouts in 118.1 innings
In two starts in Triple-A, posted a 1.80 ERA with one run allowed and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings
Played in the Futures Game at the 2026 All-Star Game

Bryce Hubbart – LHP

Louisville Bats (AAA), Chattanooga Lookouts (AA), Dayton Dragons (High-A), Daytona Tortugas (A)
Played in 25 games with one start and struck out 54 batters with a 1.36 WHIP in 44.0 innings
Appeared in 21 games in Double-A with 44 strikeouts to 16 walks in 35.2 innings

Brandon Leibrandt – LHP

Louisville Bats (AAA)
Appeared in 18 games with 17 starts and struck out 59 batters with 23 walks in 80.0 innings

James Tibbs III – OF

Oklahoma City Comets (AAA)
Played in 141 games with 150 hits, 30 home runs, 32 doubles, 107 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 108 walks with a .287 batting average and a .941 OPS
Earned All-Spring Breakout First Team honors
Two-time PCL Player of the Week, on April 5 and May 31
Selected to Los Angeles' MLB Spring Breakout roster

Colton Vincent – C/1B

El Paso Chihuahuas (AAA), San Antonio Missions (AA), Lake Elsinore Storm (A), ACL Padres (Rookie)
Played 25 games, 17 in the ACL, three at Single-A, one at Double-A and four at Triple-A, hitting .328 with 21 hits, three doubles, two triples and one home run with 15 RBI and 11 walks in 64 at-bats
Hit .413 with the ACL Padres, with 19 hits and 13 RBI in 46 at-bats with a 1.139 OPS

Double-A
Jackson Baumeister – RHP

Montgomery Biscuits (AA)
Appeared in and started 24 games and struck out 111 batters in 103.1 innings with a 1.34 WHIP

Wyatt Crowell – LHP

Tulsa Drillers (AA)
Appeared in 20 games with 11 starts and struck out 71 batters in 69.0 innings with a 7-6 record and one save

Marco Dinges – INF

Biloxi Shuckers (AA), Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (High-A)
Played in 76 games, 61 in High-A and 15 in Double-A, and notched 66 hits and hit 12 home runs with 12 doubles and 45 RBI in 220 at-bats
In High-A, hit .268 with a .855 on-base percentage

Jaime Ferrer – OF

Wichita Wind Surge (AA), Cedar Rapids Kernals (High-A)
Played in 116 games, 39 at High-A and 77 at Double-A, and had 97 hits with 15 home runs, 18 doubles and 56 RBI in 398 at-bats
In High-A, hit .277 with a .949 on-base percentage and nine home runs

Alex Lodise – SS

Columbus Clingstones (AA), Rome Emperors (High-A), Augusta GreenJackets (A)
Played in 134 games, 94 at Single-A, 17 at High-A and 23 at Double-A, and hit .272 with 146 hits, 28 home runs, 25 doubles, three triples and 84 RBI and a .841 OPS
At High-A, hit .343 with 24 hits, four home runs, four doubles and 13 RBI in 70 at-bats with a 1.005 OPS

Carson Montgomery – RHP

San Antonio Missions (AA), Fort Wayne TinCaps (High-A)
Appeared in 24 games with 23 starts, 23 at High-A and one at Double-A, pitching 95.2 innings with 81 strikeouts and a .229 opponent batting average
In 93.0 innings at High-A, struck out 80 batters with a 1.32 WHIP and a .217 opponent batting average

Yoel Tejada Jr. – LHP

Harrisburg Senators (AA), Wilmington Blue Rocks (High-A)
Appeared in 26 games with 25 starts, with 18 games at High-A and eight at Double-A, and struck out 131 batters in 120.1 innings
In 84.1 innings at High-A, had a 3.74 ERA with 100 strikeouts and 40 walks and a 1.34 WHIP

Joey Volini – LHP

Pensacola Blue Wahoos (AA), Beloit Sky Carp (High-A)
Appeared in 17 games with 15 starts, 10 games at High-A and seven at Double-A and struck out 72 batters with a 1.34 WHIP in 67.0 innings
Struck out 47 batters in 34.0 innings with 13 walks at High-A

Max Williams – OF

Pensacola Blue Wahoos (AA), Beloit Sky Carp (High-A), Jupiter Hammerheads (A)
Played in 48 games, 16 at Single-A, 23 at High-A and nine at Double-A, hitting .326 with 61 hits, 10 doubles, 15 home runs, 37 RBI, 22 walks and five stolen bases for a 1.019 OPS
In 16 games at Single-A, hit .345 with 20 hits, 10 RBI and seven extra-base hits in 58 at-bats
Hit .353 in nine games at Double-A, with 12 hits, six home runs, 13 RBI and a 1.312 OPS

High-A
Carson Dorsey – LHP

Frederick Keys (High-A)

Played in 24 games with 11 starts and posted a 7-4 record with two saves in 95.2 innings, striking out 98 batters
Named SAL Pitcher of the Week on May 3

Drew Faurot – INF

Beloit Sky Carp (High-A)

Played in 10 games and had six hits and five RBI with four runs scored, four walks and four stolen bases in 31 at-bats

Gage Harrelson - OF

Tri-City Dust Devils (High-A)
Played in 73 games and had 42 hits, seven doubles and three home runs, with 17 RBI, 34 walks and seven stolen bases in 189 at-bats

Cam Leiter – RHP

Great Lakes Loons (High-A), Ontario Tower Buzzers (A)
Played in and started 21 games, 18 at Single-A and three at High-A, and recorded a 2.45 ERA with 80 strikeouts and 26 walks in 55.0 innings while holding opposing batters to a .189 average
At Single-A, struck out 66 batters and allowed 15 earned runs in 43.2 innings
In 11.1 innings at High-A, did not allow an earned run with 14 strikeouts and four walks on just six hits for a .154 opponent batting average

Jaxson West – C

Vancouver Canadians (High-A), Dunedin Blue Jays (A), FCL Blue Jays (Rookie)
Played in 39 games and hit .350 with 48 hits, four doubles, two home runs, 20 RBI, 21 walks and seven stolen bases in 137 at-bats
In 34 at-bats at Single-A, hit .441 with a 1.047 OPS with 15 hits, two doubles and a homer
Posted 13 RBI and 25 hits in 81 at-bats at High-A for a .309 average

Conner Whittaker – RHP

Lake County Captains (High-A), Hill City Howlers (A), ACL Guardians (Rookie)
Played in 20 games, four with the ACL Guardians, eight at Single-A and eight at High-A and earned a 5-1 record with two saves in 30.2 innings with 30 strikeouts and 10 walks
Did not allow a run on one hit in 4.2 innings in the ACL
Struck out 14 and walked three in 13.2 innings at High-A

Single-A
Gavin Adams – RHP

Bradenton Marauders (A)
Played in 34 games, all in relief, and struck out 36 batters in 33.1 innings

Brayden Dowd – OF

Visalia Rawhide (A), ACL Diamondbacks (Rookie)
Played in 23 games at Single-A with 15 hits, five doubles, one home run, nine RBI and 15 walks in 91 at-bats
Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks (3rd round, 88th overall) in the 2026 MLB Draft

Evan Chrest – RHP

Hill City Howlers (A), ACL Guardians (Rookie)
Pitched in 24 games, all in relief, four in the ACL and 20 at Single-A, posting three saves with 37 strikeouts in 43.0 innings
In 20 games at Single-A, earned three saves, struck out 29 in 38.0 innings

Bryson Moore – RHP

Bradenton Marauders (A), FCL Pirates (Rookie)
Played in and started three games in the FSL with 11 strikeouts, three walks and three earned runs in 7.0 innings
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates (7th round, 198th overall) in the 2026 MLB Draft

Peyton Prescott – RHP

St. Lucie Mets (A), FCL Mets (Rookie)
Started one game in Single-A, pitching one inning and not allowing a hit with two strikeouts

Rookie
Myles Bailey – 1B

ACL Cubs (Rookie), Mesa Solar Sox (AFL)
Drafted by the Chicago Cubs (2nd round, 75th overall) in the 2026 MLB Draft

Trey Beard – LHP

FCL Marlins (Rookie)
Drafted by the Miami Marlins (5th round, 147th overall) in the 2026 MLB Draft

Maison Martinez – RHP

ACL Reds (Rookie)

Wes Mendes – LHP

FCL Astros (Rookie)
Drafted by the Houston Astros (2nd round, 57th overall) in the 2026 MLB Draft

Brodie Purcell – RHP

ACL Reds (Rookie)
Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds (12th round, 362nd overall) in the 2026 MLB Draft

Cole Stokes – RHP

FCL Rays (Rookie)
Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays (12th round, 353rd overall) in the 2026 MLB Draft

Florida State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Jamie Arnold

Myles Bailey

Trey Beard

Evan Chrest

Brayden Dowd

Drew Faurot

Gage Harrelson

Cam Leiter

Alex Lodise

Maison Martinez

Wes Mendes

Bryson Moore

Peyton Prescott

Brodie Purcell

Cole Stokes

Joey Volini

Jaxson West

Max Williams

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