FSU faces Michigan, seeking redemption for a 2019 College World Series shutout. Key pitchers and powerful hitters reignite this high-stakes rivalry.
It was the summer of 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska, at the College World Series, and a team from up north was bringing the heat. It was one of the few times that Florida State had met on the diamond against the Michigan Wolverines. It was a forgettable performance by the Seminoles.
On the mound that day for Michigan was Tommy Henry. Henry mowed down Florida State hitters, pitching a complete game, three-hit shutout and recording 10 strikeouts in a 2-0 victory for the maize and blue.
CJ Van Eyk took the loss for the Seminoles, who got sent to the showers early after giving up two runs in a little over four innings.
The Seminoles and Wolverines will meet again in two weeks in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series, to be played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Michigan holds a 7-2 advantage in the brief series between the two teams.
Michigan
Last season, Michigan posted a 33-23 record, but return key starters and contributors from that squad. The outfield will be patrolled by Greg Pace, Jr., who was one of only three players in the country with a .300 or better batting average and OPS of 1.000. Pace’s stat line looked like this: .313/.448/.586, and he hit six home runs and drove in 21 runs.
Brayden Jeffries is as versatile as they come; played seven different positions last season, and made only one error in 29 starts. After batting .267, Jeffries was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
In the rotation, Kurt Barr returns as the team’s ace. He led the team in strikeouts with 74 K’s and his ERA was 4.65. Tate Carey is back after posting a 9-0 record in 2025, a school record for wins by a freshman, and a 3.63 ERA. He struck out 51 batters and opponents batted just .238 against him. For his outstanding performance, Carey was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Also, he was named Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
Florida State
Coming off a 42-16 record last season and a second-place finish in the ACC, the Seminoles will be as equally talented as they will lean heavily on LHP Trey Beard. Beard is a transfer from Florida Atlantic, where he posted a 7-1 record and recorded 118 strikeouts. Opponents could not buy a hit off Beard as he allowed a .199 batting average against him.
The season starts next weekend and Beard already has been named to the Golden Spikes Award watch list and also a preseason All-American by the NCBWA.
At first base, Myles Bailey is back. He was a Hoover vacuum last season as he posted a .990 fielding percentage. Bailey belted 19 home runs (No. 2 in the ACC), 56 RBIs and eight game-winning hits in 2025. Bailey was named Freshman All-American by D1 Baseball, Baseball America and Perfect Game, and also was named a 2026 preseason All-American by the NCBWA.
Other notable players include catcher Hunter Carns, who is on the preseason watch list for the Buster Posey Award, given to the top catcher in college baseball. Carns hit six home runs and had 17 runs batted in, with a .286 batting average. He followed that up by batting .327 in the Cape Cod League. OF Chase Williams and freshman shortstop John Stuetzer are other notable players that will be counted on to be key contributors, especially in a rematch that is eight years in the making.
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