Atlanta Braves select Florida State SS Alex Lodise in 2025 MLB Draft

Florida State star shortstop Alex Lodise was selected with the No. 60 pick in the second round of the MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, becoming the first Seminole shortstop to be selected in the MLB Draft since John Sansone in 2016.

The St. Augustine, FL native was phenomenal in his second season in Tallahassee, as he was named First Team All-ACC and a Consensus First Team All-American along with being a Golden Spikes Award Finalist and ACC Player of the Year. In 58 games played this season, Lodise posted a .394 batting average with 18 doubles, 17 home runs, 68 RBI, a .462 OBP% and a .705 SLG%.

“[Florida State head coach] Link [Jarrett] not only builds you as a baseball player, but when you come to this program it’s almost like you’re expected to become a better man throughout your time here,” Lodise said following their season-ending loss to Oregon State in the Corvallis Super Regional.

“I think that’s something that this program is awesome with. I mean, you can come here for two years and you’re gonna leave as a better person. It’s all to the coaches and coaching staff and they just want to build the best man they can out of you and just make you a great person.”

What MLB Draft experts are saying about Alex Lodise

Lodise transferred from North Florida prior to the 2024 season, where he’d start 59 games for a Florida State program that reached the 2024 Men’s College World Series. He is yet another Transfer Portal success story, transferring from a mid-major to a power conference school to become a highly selected MLB Draft pick.

“More of a third baseman and pitcher in high school, Lodise has developed into a solid middle infielder prospect with some juice from the right side of the plate,” MLB.com’s scouting report reads. “He’s showing the ability to make a lot of impact, and added strength to his frame has helped him find more power with the ability to hit the ball out to all fields. Even with his incredible production, there are some holes in his swing, and he’s shown a tendency to chase, especially on breaking stuff, and while he improved from last year, there are still concerns with his strikeout rate.”

“More quick than fast, Lodise is an average runner who has shown improved defense as a shortstop in college. He’ll sometimes struggle with the routine play, something that can be improved with more reps and instructions, but he’s very good on the move and throwing from different angles, giving him a good chance to stick at the premium position. Even with some of the question marks, the production from a shortstop in the ACC like this will always help a player float up boards.”