College Preview Capsules: No. 17 Florida State

No. 17 Florida State

2015 Record (Ranking): 44-21 (15). RPI: 10.

Coach (Record at school): Mike Martin (1,857-649-4, 36 years)

Postseason History: 53 regionals (active streak: 38), 21 CWS trips (last in 2012), 0 national titles.

Mike Martin has proven himself to be one of college baseball’s greatest coaches, winning more than 1,800 games and advancing to the NCAA Tournament in all 36 of his seasons at the helm of Florida State’s program. But when he has a young team, as he does this year, even he must remind himself that patience is required.

There will be times when inexperienced players will make mental mistakes as they get used to playing at the collegiate level. When that inevitably happens, Martin said he must remember that building a team is a process.

2016 Lineup
Pos.	Name, Year	AVG	OBP	SLG	HR	RBI	SB
C	Cal Raleigh, Fr.	HS—Cullowhee, N.C.
1B	Dylan Busby, So.	.242	.363	.455	9	45	12
2B	Matt Henderson, Jr.	Tr.—Santa Barbara (Calif.) CC
3B	John Sansone, Sr.	.245	.382	.404	8	38	3
SS	Taylor Walls, So.	.220	.373	.247	0	22	7
LF	Jackson Lueck, Fr.	HS—Orlando
CF	Ben DeLuzio, Jr.	.241	.345	.318	2	24	14
RF	Tyler Holton, Fr.	HS—Tallahassee, Fla.
DH	Quincy Nieporte, Jr.	.297	.391	.445	7	48	1
Pos.	Name, Year	W	L	ERA	IP	SO	SV
RHP	Mike Compton, Sr.	4	4	3.55	71	70	0
LHP	Drew Carlton, So.	5	5	4.04	71	60	0
RHP	Cole Sands, Fr.	HS—Tallahassee, Fla.
RP	Tyler Warmouth, Sr.	Tr.—Stetson

“I think the big thing we’ve got to do is be patient,” he said. “We’ve got two, possibly three positions that will be manned by freshmen. As the year goes on, a couple of these freshmen pitchers are going to battle for spots in the rotation. Patience is still the virtue that we’re looking for.”

The Seminoles return 21 letterwinners from a team that won the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament and advanced to super regionals but will have to replace four regulars in the lineup and several key pitchers. Chief among the losses was outfielder D.J. Stewart, the 25th overall pick in the draft and 2014 ACC player of the year. Also gone are catcher Danny De La Calle, starter Boomer Biegalski and closer Billy Strode.

Florida State’s recruiting class, put together by recruiting coordinator Mike Martin Jr., ranked sixth in the country and will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact. But the newcomers will have to quickly adjust to the rigors of the ACC.

Righthander Cole Sands and catcher Cal Raleigh highlight the class and represent significant coups for Florida State. Sands, a Tallahassee native, could have followed older brother Carson to pro ball but chose to stay at home.

With excellent makeup, a fastball that gets up to 95 mph and solid secondary stuff, he should see significant innings as a freshman. Raleigh was strongly committed to Clemson until longtime coach Jack Leggett was fired in June and now figures to be De La Calle’s successor behind the plate.

Even with all the talented freshmen, Florida State has some familiar faces to rely on. Redshirt senior Mike Compton is back for another year in the rotation. The righthander doesn’t have powerful stuff but has proven he knows how to get outs and has won 23 games in his career.

“Michael has been a very good leader for the five years he’s been here,” Martin said. “He’s not a guy who’s going to knock the bat out of your hands, but he’s just one of those guys you’re comfortable with when he’s out on the mound.”

Offensively, the return of Dylan Busby, Quincy Nieporte and John Sansone should help ease in the newcomers. The trio will all be playing new positions, with Busby moving to first base from third while Sansone shifts from second to third. The Seminoles aim to improve defensively after ranking 13th in the ACC with a .960 fielding percentage last year.

Martin also is looking forward taking advantage of his offense’s speed, led by hoped-for improvement from junior center fielder Ben DeLuzio, an unsigned third-rounder out of high school in 2013 who endured a sophomore slump.

“Our starting lineup will have every single person with the maybe exception of the DH that can run,” Martin said. “I’m not saying they’ve got blazing speed, one has blazing speed, but even our catcher has very good feet and legs and can cause problems, so that’s encouraging. That’s exciting.”

While the turnover does create some uncertainty for the Seminoles, Martin said he is excited to see how all the pieces fit together.

“I’m just as excited, if not more excited, to begin the season as I’ve been in—this is year 37 for me,” said Martin, who had successful double-knee replacement surgery in the offseason. “I like this ballclub. I’m really anxious to see what the future holds for us. I’m anxious to see what happens.”