Seminoles Gain Commitment from Big East Pitcher of the Year

The Florida State baseball team received some reinforcements to the pitching staff through the transfer portal. 

The Seminoles secured a commitment from the Big East Pitcher of the Year, former UConn hurler Caden Suchy. 

Pitching coach Micah Posey will welcome the left-handed Suchy (5-3) with open arms. Suchy posted a 2.82 ERA and recorded 105 strikeouts against only 23 walks in 89 innings of work. Suchy has pledged his services to a pitching staff that ranked second in the ACC in ERA, including a starting rotation of ACC Pitcher of the Year Wes Mendes, Trey Beard, and Bryson Moore, as well as ace closer John Abraham.

Suchy’s commitment comes at an opportune time. Mendes is a certain early-round draft pick in next month’s Major League Baseball Draft. Both Beard and Moore are eligible to be drafted, but it remains to be seen if they declare or come back to the Seminoles to take care of unfinished business. Jarrett will have to re-recruit these players and other key contributors if the Seminoles are to be contenders in 2027. 

Florida State has already lost starting catcher Hunter Carns, shortstop Gabe Fraser, outfielder Chase Williams, infielder Noah Sheffield, infielder Kelvyn Paulino, Jr., and pitchers Jake Echols and Manny Lantigua to the talent black hole that is the portal, so that the Seminoles will look a little different next season. 

Suchy will join sophomore-to-be outfielder John Stuetzer, who earned ACC All-Freshman honors, and power-hitting first baseman Myles Bailey, who will be coming off a season-ending injury. 

In addition, Suchy will also join fellow transfer Jackson McKenzie. At the plate, McKenzie batted .417 with a slugging percentage of .850 for Florida A&M, leading the SWAC in both categories. He hit 12 home runs with 52 runs batted in, recorded 13 doubles, and scored 36 runs. Ironically, McKenzie did not earn all-conference honors.

The Seminoles finished the 2026 regular season by earning a No. 10 national seed and hosted their own regional. Dick Howser Stadium was a venue that was unkind to Florida State opponents, where the Seminoles were victorious 83 percent of the time.

But in the regional, a team from the Big East Conference, the St. John’s Red Storm, spoiled the Seminoles NCAA tournament plans and sent them packing in an early exit from post-season play. Florida State won 40 games for the third consecutive season under coach Link Jarrett.

Gaining the pledge from a star pitching prospect like Suchy will help take the sting out of unrealized baseball dreams in the postseason. Jarrett will have to re-recruit the players listed above, plus other key contributors, if the Seminoles are to be contenders in 2027.

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