Florida State baseball dealt with a huge blow before first pitch. 

Pitcher Braxton Varnes is out for 2026 with an injury, his head coach Link Jarrett confirmed to reporters Thursday. It's not known what ailment Varnes has that prevents him from taking the mound.

The right-handed thrower was expected to compete for rotational duties this season. He now joins Jacob Marlowe as pitchers going to IR (Marlowe had Tommy John surgery). 

Varnes stressed batters with a 90-mph fast ball then switched to a mid-70s curveball. But his go-to was a changeup.