Alex Lodise and Jamie Arnold both had excellent 2025 seasons with the FSU Seminoles, but are both moving on to the MLB. Both are expected to be taken during the early parts of the 2025 MLB draft, and Gabe Lacques of USA TODAY Sports believes they will both be first-round picks.
He has the Los Angeles Angels selecting Arnold with the No. 2 overall pick and the Arizona Diamondbacks taking Lodise with the No. 29 overall pick, making some program history. It would be the second straight year the Seminoles would have two first-round draft picks after James Tibbs III and Cam Smith were first-rounders last year, something that has never happened in FSU’s storied history.
While Lacques acknowledges that other players are in the mix at No. 2, he thinks the Angels will stick with Arnold. Saying “Arnold has shown an ability to get deep in games against elite competition, and better fits the ‘now’ ethos of the Angels’ recent draft history.”
The lefty finished the 2025 season with an 8-2 record and a 2.98 ERA. In 84.2 innings, he recorded 119 strikeouts against 63 hits and 27 walks, holding opponents to a .208 batting average.
Lodise has impressed Lacques with his defensive versatility.
“More glue guy than toolbox, Lodise nonetheless produced a .394/.462/.705 line in his second year in Tallahassee, earning ACC player of the year honors,” he said. “Hit 17 homers and has potential to add more power, but has value with his ability to play virtually anywhere.”
He is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award after hitting .394 with 17 home runs, 18 doubles, 68 RBI, and 62 runs. He has also excelled in the field, making just five errors in 216 chances and having a .977 fielding percentage. He has helped turn 34 double plays and consistently made high-level plays to rob opposing teams of hits and runs.
If the projection holds, Arnold would be the highest drafted Seminole since J.D. Drew went 2nd overall to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1997 MLB draft and will become the first FSU pitcher drafted in the first round since Luke Weaver in 2014. Lodise would be the first FSU shortstop taken in the first round since Stephen Drew went to the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 15 pick in the 2004 draft.