FSU Starts No. 3 in Baseball America Poll

Florida State received its highest preseason ranking yet on Tuesday morning.

The Seminoles were ranked No. 3 in the Baseball America Poll. FSU was previously ranked fifth by Collegiate Baseball and D1Baseball.com.

After a first College World Series appearance in five years, FSU found itself behind only rival Florida, the defending national champions, and No. 2 Oregon State. FSU finished 46-23 last season with a second ACC title in three years before falling twice to LSU in Omaha.

With the exception of closer Drew Carlton, the Seminoles return essentially every key pitcher from a season ago. In the lineup, FSU will have to replace the likes of Quincy Nieporte, Taylor Walls and Dylan Busby, but Jackson Lueck, Drew Mendoza and Cal Raleigh all have a lot of potential.

The ace of the pitching staff is junior lefty Tyler Holton. He could get the ball when FSU opens the 2018 season against Xavier on Feb. 16.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson