Former JU pitcher Evan Chrest excited to start next chapter with FSU Baseball

While Link Jarrett and the Florida State baseball staff will be looking to shore up every aspect of their roster this offseason, the top priority in the transfer portal so far has been pitching.

The Seminoles have landed commitments from five transfers this month, and four of them are pitchers: former Jacksonville right-handers Evan Chrest and Peyton Prescott, former USF left-hander Joey Volini and former Long Beach State righty Grant Cherry.

Chrest, a Tampa product who was selected in the 17th round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of high school, was the first of the group to jump on board with the Seminoles. And even though he has pitched extensively the past two seasons at JU, he told Warchant he decided to enter the transfer portal because he wanted to take his game to another level.

“Just felt like it was time to move on and grow up as a baseball player,” Chrest said.

The rising junior chose Florida State over TCU and Auburn, and he said the urgency demonstrated by the Seminoles stuck out to him.

“The fact that Florida State talked to me first and made it apparent that they wanted me on the team for next year was gravitating,” Chrest said.

Over two seasons at Jacksonville, Chrest posted a 4.46 ERA in 30 starts with a 10-6 record. He allowed 178 hits and 61 walks, while striking out 172 over 159.1 innings pitched.

While the 6-foot right-hander was impressed by the passion of Florida State’s recruiting pitch, he also said that the Seminoles came across as genuine.

“The coaching staff was amazing,” Chrest said. “They laid out everything I wanted to hear. They made it clear the vision that they had for me and the vision they have for next season.”

While he didn’t pitch in any of JU’s games against Florida State the past two seasons, Chrest cited the opportunity to be part of the home team at Dick Howser Stadium as another reason for his excitement. He described the atmosphere in Howser as electric and said the Seminoles’ fans know how to put pressure on the opposing team.

“I’m honestly just excited to hear ‘K-Time’ while I’m pitching this time,” Chrest said.

The former Tampa Wharton star excelled during his freshman season at JU, earning Freshman All-America honors and being named the Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year.  He went 8-2 that season with a 2.68 ERA.

Chrest’s sophomore season didn’t go as well and his ERA spiked to 6.82, but he told Warchant that he is looking forward to learning and developing under Florida State pitching coach Micah Posey. He believes Posey’s track record shows he can help Chrest improve his velocity, command and in-game strategies.

“What pitches I should throw, when, [and how to] use them to their greatest effectiveness,” Chrest said.

Although he committed to Florida State before the Seminoles made their strong postseason run, the fact that they made it all the way to the College World Series semifinals in Jarrett’s second season only makes him more confident in his decision.

“Seeing them go to Omaha and have a chance to win makes me even more excited to go back-to-back,” Chrest said.

Mitch Krueger is an FSU student and summer intern with Warchant.com.

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