What JUCO RHP newcomer Chris Knier could do in 2025

FSU baseball coach Link Jarrett knew the Noles needed improvements in pitching heading into the 2024 season. FSU was able to make great strides but had to deal with injuries to two starting pitchers and a few players who never made it to the season, which limited the bullpen. The latter was a weakness that kept coming up, but it looks like Jarrett is determined to turn that weakness into a strength in 2025. FSU landed its sixth JUCO pitcher commitment on Friday afternoon in right-handed pitcher Chris Knier. Knier comes from Indian River State College, where he made 19 appearances (one start) in 2024. He pitched 63.2 innings, with a 2.12 ERA, two saves, a .93 WHIP, 88 strikeouts and just 14 walks.

The strikeout-to-walk ratio is excellent and that is exactly what FSU has been missing from its bullpen in 2024. Knier is the No. 24 player among the top 50 JUCO players eligible for the 2024 MLB Draft.

Knier was the No. 253 RHP in the class of 2023, according to Perfect Game.

Knier throws a fastball, a curveball and a slider. The fastball seems to have a good life with movement in the zone. His curveball is nasty, not quite 12-6, but a hammer when he gets to it. He can throw it to get strikes if he wants to.

It’s not clear how many of those JUCO players will decommit to FSU and sign with an MLB team. We should have a better idea next month, but it looks like Link Jarrett is stockpiling pitchers just in case. Knier is the sixth right-handed pitcher to commit to FSU between JUCO and the transfer portal. FSU will likely bring back some of last year’s personnel, especially its starters. However, if the majority of those transfers arrive in Tallahassee, it could be difficult for opposing teams to do much against FSU offensively. Now FSU needs to find more offensive talent from the portal or the JUCO ranks.