Jameis Winston is the primary closer for the Florida State baseball team. (Florida State photo)
Oregon ended Jameis Winston’s National Championship title hopes on the football field. But the Florida State quarterback doesn’t have much time to sulk – he’s got a baseball game in about 6 weeks.
Yes, Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, is on the Seminoles’ baseball team. He is the primary closer and a reserve outfielder. In 2012 he was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 15th round of the MLB Draft.
So it’s about that time of the year when Winston needs to trade in his football cleats for a pair of baseball spikes.
Here’s all you need to know about Winston the baseball player:
1. Winston is The Team’s Closer And a Reserve Outfielder
Winston assumed the role of the team’s primary closer in his sophomore season. He picked up 7 saves in 24 appearances and his 1.08 ERA led the team. The right-hander went 1-0 and struck out 31 in 33 1/3 innings, allowing just 18 hits and 7 walks.
He held opposing hitters to a team-best .154 average.
As an outfielder, Winston played in 24 games, making 2 starts in left field and 3 as the designated hitter.
He batted just .128 (5-for-39) with 2 doubles and 4 RBIs. Winston struck out 9 times and walked 8.
In the field, he made 2 errors and had 8 assists.
Prior to his sophomore campaign, Winston was a chosen by Baseball America to its Preseason All-American third team as a utility player.
Winston has no home runs in 158 career at-bats.
2. Winston Made 32 Outfield Starts as a Freshman
In his freshman season, Winston played more as a position player than as a pitcher. He played in 41 games and started 32 (20 in right field, 2 in left field, 10 at DH).
Winston batted .235 (28-for-119) with 7 doubles, 3 triples and 9 RBIs. He was 2-for-4 on stolen base attempts.
As a pitcher in 2013, Winston went 1-2 with 2 saves in 17 appearances. He struck out 21, walked 12 and gave up 18 hits in 27 innings, while compiling a 3.00 ERA.
3. Winston is Known to Have One of The Best Outfield Arms in The Nation
Winston’s got a strong arm on the football field and that translates well to the outfield. Just check out that clip above.
It is widely believed Winston has one of the strongest outfield arms in college baseball.
Seminoles head coach Mike Martin obviously saw that and wanted to get more use from it as he got Winston on the mound more last season.
4. Deion Sanders Also Played Football And Baseball at FSU
NFL analyst Deion Sanders was also a fooball and baseball player for Florida State. Sanders played for Martin and hit .331 in 1986 and stole 27 bases the following season.
Sanders was selected by the New York Yankees in the 1988 draft in the 30th round (781st overall). He was also taken with the 5th overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1989 NFL Draft.
“Prime Time” played for 6 NFL teams (Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington, San Diego and Baltimore) and 4 MLB teams – N.Y. Yankees, Atlanta, Cincinnati (2 stints) and San Francisco.
Sanders is in both the Pro Football and College Football Hall of Fames.
Sanders also had a rap career and a reality show. No word on whether Winston has his eyes set on those.
5. Florida State Has Zero World Series Titles
(Getty)
Florida State has made 21 College World Series appearances (most recently in 2012) and been the runner-up 3 times (1970, 1986, 1999).
But the ‘Noles have yet to raise that national championship trophy in Omaha, Neb., site of the CWS.
For 2015, Florida State is ranked 11th in Collegiate Baseball’s Fabulous 40 NCAA Division I preseason poll. The Seminoles are coming off a 43-17 season which saw them win their 8th-straight ACC Atlantic Division title.
FSU also made its 52nd NCAA Tournament appearance and 37th in a row.
Martin has run the Florida State program since 1980 and has a 1,770-611-4 record.
The Seminoles open their season Feb. 13 with a 3-game home series against Oakland (Mich.).
