Link Jarrett announces weekend rotation; UCF transfer Cam Leiter lands Friday job
Second-year Florida State baseball coach Link Jarrett doesn’t know everything about his new-look team just yet. Some answers will be revealed as the 2024 season progresses.
What Jarrett does know is who he will be throwing in the starting rotation when Butler comes to town this weekend for a season-opening series. He also has a decent idea of what his defensive lineup will look like, and who will be the biggest threats in his batting order.
Former UCF starter Cam Leiter, a 6-foot, 5-inch sophomore right-hander, is going to open the season as the Friday night starter, Jarrett confirmed on Wednesday. Leiter, who went 3-2 with 4.92 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 56.2 innings last season,will take the mound at 5 p.m. Friday.
“Leiter gives us some energy and some intensity every pitch,” Jarrett said. “I think he has four good pitches in play.”
Along with what Jarrett described as a, “good, lively fastball,” he said Leiter possesses an over-the-top breaking ball, a slider and change-up — all of which he can throw for strikes.
“And he’s into every pitch,” Jarrett said. “It’s fun. When he takes the field, you’ll feel the energy.”
The Seminoles’ Saturday starter will be sophomore left-hander Jamie Arnold, who made eight starts in 2023 but mostly pitched out of the bullpen. Arnold went 2-5 with a 6.34 ERA as a freshman.
Jarrett said junior righty Conner Whittaker will start on Sunday; he posted a 5-6 record with a 4.33 ERA as a part-time starter last season.
“We feel like those guys had a nice progression into this,” Jarrett said. “And their stuff has been — although different — really good.”
Some of the top arms out of the bullpen, Jarrett said, will be Carson Dorsey, Ben Barrett, Noah Short, Gavin Adams and Brennen Oxford. Florida State also is excited to watch the development of talented young arms Matt Sauser, Hudson Rowan and Brady Louck.
“At times, it’s been dynamic,” Jarrett said.
Watch the video below for more from Jarrett on the Seminoles’ hitters and defensive options:
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