Eight ‘Noles Taken in 2014 MLB Draft

After starting pitcher Luke Weaver was taken in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft on Thursday, three more FSU players were selected on Friday. Pitchers Peter Miller and Brandon Leibrandt were each selected as was shortstop Justin Gonzalez, the first Florida State position player to be taken. Over the draft’s final 30 rounds on Saturday, the number of Seminoles selected doubled from four to eight.

Third baseman Jose Brizuela was the first Seminole off the board on Saturday as he was selected 492nd overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 16th round. FSU’s other corner infielder, first baseman John Nogowski, was also taken by the Oakland Athletics, but not for another 18 rounds. Nowgowski was selected in the 34th round with the 1,032nd overall pick.

In 2014, both Brizuela and Nogowski batted over .300. Brizuela hit .321 with two home runs and 38 RBIs while Nogowski was second on the team with five homers and 49 RBIs behind only ACC Player of the Year, D.J. Stewart.

Three of the first four Seminoles taken in the 2014 draft were pitchers and on Saturday, two more FSU hurlers were selected by Major League teams. Side-winding reliever Gage Smith went 760th overall in the 25th round to the Detroit Tigers while lefty Bryant Holtmann was the final Florida State product to go in the 2014 draft. Holtmann was picked 1,121st overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 37th round.

Smith was an All-ACC performer in 2014, appearing in a team-high 40 of Florida State’s 60 games. Smith posted a 5-2 record with a 2.39 ERA and better than a 5:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Holtmann also had a solid season by finishing with a 5-1 record and a 3.68 ERA in 14 appearances — six of which were starts.

Overall, eight Florida State players were selected in the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft. Those with eligibility left will have the option of returning to school. Brizuela, Nogowski and Holtmann are the most likely draftees to return for another season at Florida State. Though both will likely opt to begin their professional careers, Weaver and Leibrandt are also eligible to return.