​For the second straight year, the Cincinnati Reds have drafted a Florida State pitching prospect. On Sunday, the Reds chose relief pitcher Brodie Purcell in the 12th round, pick 362, of the Major League Draft. In 2025, Cincinnati selected Seminoles pitcher Maison Martinez in the 16th round, pick 464. Purcell, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 215 pounds, arrived from the Florida State bullpen with a fierce mindset. During the 2026 season, he made 18 relief appearances and posted a 5-2 record with a 4.97 ERA, along with three saves. In 38 innings pitched, Purcell struck out 58, issued 21 walks, and limited opponents to a .207 batting average. Notably, he delivered six scoreless, hitless innings for the season and logged a season-high four innings against NC State, while recording a season-best seven strikeouts against Northern Illinois.
Purcell previously spent two seasons at USC before heading to Tallahassee. A California native, he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors for the Trojans in 2025, a season in which he appeared in 27 games, went 3-2 with four saves, posted a 2.11 ERA, struck out 51, walked 19, and held hitters to a .177 average. As a freshman at USC, Purcell went 2-0 with a 4.03 ERA in 23 appearances, logging 29 innings, 31 strikeouts, 17 walks, and a .219 opponent batting average.
Purcell’s call to the draft on Sunday marked the seventh Florida State player chosen, and the fourth pitcher, from this year’s Seminoles roster. Teammates Trey Beard, Bryson Moore, and Cole Stokes were also selected on Sunday. The previous day, a trio of Seminoles went in the first three rounds: Florida State ace Wes Mendes went in the second round to the Houston Astros, earning ACC Pitcher of the Year honors for the season. Also selected in the second round was first baseman Myles Bailey by the Chicago Cubs, while outfielder Brayden Dowd went in the third round to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bailey’s pursuit of power at the plate was aided by his season-ending leg injury, which occurred as he boasted a .363 average with 13 home runs and 33 RBIs at the time of the injury. Dowd, meanwhile, hit 10 home runs, drove in 36 runs, and drew 51 walks, earning third-team All-ACC recognition for his efforts.
Purcell and his Florida State classmates continue a tradition of excellence that has long defined the program, a lineage that has consistently produced Major League-level talent. If you’d like, we can expand this piece to reach the requested minimum length, weaving in more background on each player and the program’s ongoing pipeline to the majors, along with quotes and historical context from Seminoles alumni and scouts.