Florida State has added an experienced outfielder to its 2027 roster, with former Pitt standout AJ Nessler announcing on Monday that he is committing to the Seminoles.
Nessler, who came out of Tampa Jesuit High School, was part of the 2022 high school class and has already logged more than 150 games across four college seasons. According to the source, he “was part of a court ruling in California that gives him an extra year.” If FSU were playing today, he would be eligible, though the broader situation involving the 2022 class, lawsuits and the NCAA remains unsettled.
His path has been a winding one. Nessler spent his freshman year at Pitt, transferred to UCF for one season, then returned to Pitt for his junior and senior campaigns. Across those stops, the five-foot-ten left-handed hitter has started 156 games, including 137 at Pitt and 36 at UCF.
This past season, Nessler was a fixture in Pitt’s lineup, starting 56 of the team’s 57 games. Every one of those starts came in the leadoff spot. He split his time in the outfield between center field, where he played 37 games, and left field, where he appeared in 19.
At the plate, Nessler delivered a strong senior year. Over 232 at-bats, he hit .310 with a .410 on-base percentage and a .496 slugging percentage.
He finished with six doubles, five triples and nine home runs, while stealing 13 bases in 14 tries. He also drew 36 walks against 34 strikeouts, scored 64 runs and drove in 42.
He was credited with three outfield assists and two errors.
For his career, Nessler is hitting .306 with an .877 OPS across 748 plate appearances. He has drawn 102 walks and struck out 90 times.
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Norvells update matters because the opener is shaping up to be more than a routine tune-up. He pointed to New Mexico States defensive experience and physicality, a reminder that Florida State is walking into a game that could demand more from its offense than a typical early-season matchup. Having Wisner back gives the Seminoles another layer of stability as they get ready for a defense that should arrive with some edge. [Read more 🡒]