Former Seminole Pitcher Trey Beard Paves Path to Marlins

MIAMI — The Miami Marlins invited their entire 2026 MLB Draft class to loanDepot park before Friday’s game against the San Diego Padres. 

Among the high school and college standouts brought into the fold of the Fightin’ Fish is Florida State alum Trey Beard. Like most draftees, Beard spent his draft weekend with family waiting for the call to come in. 

It eventually came in the fifth round. 

“It was awesome,” Beard said. “It’s something that I worked for my whole life. Finally getting that call just meant something.”

Beard was one of seven Seminoles to get drafted this summer, including Wes Mendes and Myles Bailey, who each went in the second round. The Marlins selected three Seminoles in last year’s draft. 

Beard went 6-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 68 innings pitched over 14 outings (12 starts) with the Seminoles this spring. Florida State went 40-19 this season before being eliminated in their own regional in upset fashion against St. John’s. 

Beard said “the competition” within the team and the ACC prepared him for a career in the professional ranks. 

“I feel like we got a lot of competitive guys over there,” Beard said. “They really wanted to win and that just made us all better.”

Before his lone season at Florida State, Beard was closer to his future minor league home at the start of his collegiate career. He played two seasons at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. 

His sophomore season was the best in his college career, posting a 3.45 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 86 innings over 16 appearances (15 starts) for an Owls team that finished 37-21 and in second place in the American Athletic Conference standings. 

Beard said the difference between his time at both programs was the level of fan engagement during the games. 

“I feel like the fans were a big part of the game at the ACC level,” Beard said. “Those fans made it even more competitive for the teams, and that makes you want to win even more.”

Beard sports a fastball in the low 90s, topping out at 94 mph. His best pitch is his 75-77 mph changeup, which Beard said has been his “go-to really since high school,” but a third pitch is what made him a professional.

“I think a good development on my slider this past year was a really big help for me,” Beard said. “I feel like I use the slider a lot more this year than I have in past years, and I think that really helped me step up my game.”

Beard will likely wait until next season to pitch again, but the foundation will be laid out at the Marlins spring training facility in Jupiter. 

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