CEDAR PARK, Texas- A trio of Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneer rookies have found their way onto the Perfect Game Top Incoming Juco Freshmen list as Landon O'Donnell (#4), Matthew Shumate (#63), and Abel Albarran (#118) have all been named to the group ahead of the start of the 2024 season on Friday.
O'Donnell, who is headed to Florida State University next season was ranked the #4 overall incoming freshman in 2024. The big righthander will start the season at the front of the Bucs rotation after a solid fall that saw his fastball consistently in the mid-90s.
Shumate checks in at #63 on the list. Before joining the Bucs he prepped at Lake Mary High School in central Florida where he was named Conference Pitcher of the Year as a senior when he posted a 1.50 ERA on the season.
Albarran was just outside the top 100 at #118. A local product, Albarran played at Lemon Bay High School where he led his team to a District Championship as a senior, striking out 70 opposing batters in 58 innings of work for the Manta Rays.
Two other FSW players also made the list but will spend the season as redshirts in the program as Luis Castillo (#7) and Luke Geske (#80) give the Bucs a total of five total players on the list and four inside the Top 100.
FSW begins their 2024 season on Friday in Bradenton when they take on #6 Northwest Florida in an inter-region battle at noon at Wynn Field on the campus of the State College of Florida.