The Florida State baseball team took to the field for their first day of fall practice on Wednesday, Sept. 19, under the direction of Mike Martin, who is entering his 29th season as the head coach of the Seminoles. FSU returns 15 letter-winners, including five starters, with at least 15 starts at one position, from the 2007 squad that finished the season with an overall record of 49-13 while claiming the ACC Atlantic Division title.

On the other end, the Seminoles lost 17 letter-winners and six starters from a season ago and will combat that by welcoming one of the biggest incoming classes that FSU has had in recent years with the addition of 20 newcomers in 2008.

Among the starters returning for the upcoming season include All-America catcher Buster Posey, Freshman All-America third baseman Jason Stidham, right-fielder Jack Rye, outfielder/first baseman Dennis Guinn and starting pitcher Ryan Strauss.

Posey started all 62 games from behind the plate in 2007 and became the first sophomore to be named a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award, presented to the nation's top collegiate catcher. In his first season behind the plate, Posey helped the Seminole pitching staff post a team ERA of 3.57, good for third in the ACC. He also finished second on the team in hitting with a .382 average.

With 32 combined starts in the outfield, Ohmed Danesh and Ruairi O'Connor are back in 2008. Danesh is coming off a fantastic summer where he ranked in the top 10 of the Florida Collegiate Summer League in 10 offensive categories while leading the league in doubles, total bases and slugging percentage. Last year, O'Connor hit .296 in 44 games for Florida State tallying 10 doubles and 22 RBIs.

Also back for Florida State are a pair of infielders in junior Tommy Oravetz and sophomore Stephen Cardullo. Oravetz appeared in 51 games in 2007 making 10 starts including nine as the Seminole designated hitter. He was a reliable candidate in pinch hitting situations a year ago as he was the team leader in that category. Cardullo hit .273 in 12 games last year with a home run and 5 RBIs.

On the mound, the Seminoles welcome back seniors Trent Jarvis and Neil Malpass, juniors Bo O'Dell and Jimmy Marshall, sophomore left hander Matt Fairel and redshirt freshman Scott Thorson.

The Seminoles will look to replace a pair of starting pitchers in Bryan Henry and Michael Hyde. The duo went a combined 24-4 during their senior campaign making 34 starts, while throwing over 200 innings.

Florida State took a hit from the Major League Baseball Draft this past summer as six underclassmen were selected with four signing professional contracts in the off-season. Among those who signed were Tony Thomas, Jr. (Chicago Cubs, 3rd Round), Mark Hallberg (Arizona Diamondbacks, 9th Round), Mark Gildea (Washington Nationals, 9th Round) and Danny Rosen (Arizona Diamondbacks, 41st Round). Strauss and Rye were the two underclassman to return to Florida State as Strauss was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 35th round and Rye in the 46th round by the San Francisco Giants.

With the departure of Thomas, Hallberg and Brandon Reichert (graduation), Stidham is the lone returning starting infielder heading into the 2008 season. Guinn will look to replace Reichert at first, while transfers Tony Delmonico (Tennessee) and Stephen Halford (UNC Wilmington) will vie for playing time in the infield.

Joining Delmonico and Halford are 18 other newcomers for the 2008 season. The following is a brief look at the new faces to don the Garnet and Gold beginning this fall.

Parker Brunelle, Catcher, Snellville, GA

Brunelle excelled in both baseball and football at Wesleyan School in Norcross, Ga.. A switch-hitting catcher, Brunelle is ranked as the 63rd best prospect as a position player by Perfect Game.

Calvin Brutus, RHP, Hardee, FL

A star in both baseball and swimming at Hardee High School, Brutus was named MVP in both sports during his junior year. He finished his high school swimming career as a three-time captain and team MVP.

Tony Delmonico, Infielder, Knoxville, TN

Delmonico transfers to Florida State after two very successful seasons at the University of Tennessee where he led the Volunteers in runs (53), home runs (9), RBIs (49), and walks (35) last year. Delmonico was named to the All-Tournament team at the SEC Tournament after belting two home runs and driving in four runs.

John Doolittle, Catcher, Newman, GA

His 15 home runs during his senior season led the team. Doolittle also drove in 38 runs and hit .338 in the spring of 2007.

Taiwan Easterling, RHP/OF, Hattiesburg, MS

Easterling was named to the "Dandy Dozen" as well as Mississippi's Mr. Baseball by the Clarion-Ledger. Easterling hit .455 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI's in leading Oak Grove to its ninth baseball state championship. He was selected in the 6th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins with the 196th overall pick. He is on football scholarship.

Tyler Everett, RHP/Utility, Tallahassee, FL

Everett starred on the diamond at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Fla. As both a pitcher and a position player, Everett earned Second Team All-State honors in both his junior and senior campaigns. The right-hander's father, Jimmy Everett, played football at Florida State from 1971-1974.

John Gast, LHP, Longwood, FL

A stand-out at Lake Brantley High School, John Gast earned Seminole County's Player of the Year award in 2007. Gast struck out 85 batters in just 57 2/3 innings while posting a 1.18 ERA before dropping his first game of the season in April. The southpaw was drafted 170th overall in the 5th round by the Texas Rangers in the 2007 MLB Draft.

Stephen Halford, Shortstop, Raleigh, NC

Halford joins the Seminoles after spending two seasons at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. He led the UNCW with a .352 average and 52 runs scored playing every day as the team's starting shortstop in 2007.

Tyler Holt, Outfielder, Gainesville, FL

The outfielder was named third team All-State as a freshman, second team All-State as a junior and earned first team All-State honors as a sophomore and senior. Holt had a remarkable senior season as he hit .608 with six home runs, 42 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases.

Matthew Kane, Catcher, Lake Worth, FL

During his junior year, Kane's Palm Beach Central squad was an incredible 27-1 during the season but fell to Flanagan in the Regional Finals.

Michael Martinez, LHP, Miami, FL

Martinez played four years of varsity baseball at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. The left-hander compiled a 9-0 pitching record as a junior and earned Second Team All-Dade honors. Martinez was selected in the 43rd round by the Washington Nationals with the 1275th overall selection.

Mike McGee, RHP, Port St. Lucie, FL

A utility player in high school, McGee hit over .400 in three straight seasons at Port St. Lucie High. He finished his junior year with a 1.27 ERA and a 7-4 record while striking out 81 batters in 66 innings.

Geoff Parker, RHP/Utility, Dade City, FL

Parker was a standout both at the plate and on the mound for Zephryhills High School. Winning 10 games on the mound, Parker posted a remarkable 1.29 ERA. His efforts earned him team MVP in his senior season and a First-Team All-State selection by the FSWA.

Mark Peterson, LHP, Ft. Pierce, FL

The left-hander was named third team All-State as a senior. Peterson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 50th round of the 2007 draft.

Nick Polston, Outfielder, Lake Wales, FL

Polston comes to Florida State after a successful two years at South Florida Community College and an impressive career at Lake Wales High School. An outfielder who also has experience playing catcher, Polston was named All-County in 2004 and 2005.

Jack Posey, Infielder, Leesburg, GA

He helped Team Georgia take home the Sunbelt Classic title and earned All-Tournament accolades. Jack is the brother of Seminole catcher Buster Posey and was a high school teammate of Seminole quarterback D'Vontrey Richardson.

Luke Smierciak, RHP/Utility, Gainesville, FL

Smierciak was a two-sport star at Gainesville High School, competing in both football and baseball. Smierciak posted a remarkable 18-2 record on the mound in his high school career, including a 10-0 mark as a senior. He was named a First-Team All-State selection his senior year as he also hit .478 with 19 doubles.

Stuart Tapley, Shortstop, Orlando, FL

Tapley played both baseball and football at Boone High School in Orlando. He was named All-Metro three consecutive years in his high school career.

Ryan Vigue, LHP, Merritt Island, FL

The southpaw was 10-1 with a 0.61 ERA in 2006. His efforts earned him first team All-Conference, All-Cape Coast, and All-State honors.

Elih Villanueva, RHP, Miami, FL

Villanueva transfers to Florida State with some impressive numbers in his high school and collegiate career. A 2004 graduate of Westminster Academy in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Villanueva posted a 1.15 ERA to go along with a 10-3 record on his way to earning Second Team All-State honors. The Miami native pitched the 2005 campaign at Florida International University and compiled a 7-3 record in his freshman season. He was second on the team with 101.2 innings pitched and 79 strikeouts. In 2007 he had a phenomenal season for Miami-Dade College, striking out 109 batters in just 89.0 innings pitched.