FSU’s Wes Mendes named ACC Pitcher of the Week
· Yahoo Sports
Florida State baseball has been a factory of ACC weekly award winners this spring, and junior left-hander Wes Mendes is the latest Seminole to step into that spotlight. The Atlantic Coast Conference named Mendes its Pitcher of the Week on Monday, March 30, following a dominant performance in FSU's series-opening victory over the Duke lue Devils.
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For a No. 7-ranked Florida State program that has built its identity around pitching depth and collective excellence, Mendes' recognition is more than an individual milestone, it is a reflection of a staff firing on all cylinders at precisely the right point in the season. With ACC play in full swing and the postseason picture beginning to take shape, the Seminoles have never looked more formidable at the top of their rotation.
The Performance That Earned the Honor
In a 3-1 victory over Duke on March 27, Mendes struck out a career-high-tying 12 batters across 6 2/3 shutout innings, improving to 6-1 on the season, one win shy of tying his career high. He allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out multiple batters in four different innings, including three punchouts in the third.
The composure Mendes showed under pressure was equally impressive. On two separate occasions, an inning-ending strikeout stranded a runner on third base. He also threw a season-high 104 pitches, one short of matching his career high, and did not allow a run for the fourth time in his seven starts in 2026. It was a masterclass in efficiency, poise, and pure stuff.
A Season-Long Statement
The Duke outing was no isolated breakthrough, it was the latest chapter in one of the most impressive individual pitching seasons FSU fans have seen in years. Mendes posted double-digit strikeouts for the third time in his last four outings, and his performance helped Florida State complete a series win over Duke, the program's third series victory in three weeks to open ACC play. FSU is now off to a 7-2 start or better in conference play in back-to-back years for the first time since a five-year stretch from 2012 to 2016.
The recognition has been piling up all spring. Two weeks prior, on March 16, Mendes was named Perfect Game Co-Pitcher of the Week and to Baseball America's National Team of the Week, sharing both honors with fellow Junior Trey Beard. He was also included on the College Baseball Foundation's National Pitcher of the Year Watch List in 2026. Monday's ACC award marks the first ACC Pitcher of the Week honor of Mendes' career.
What's Next
Mendes and the Seminoles will begin a week on the road Tuesday, March 31, when No. 7 Florida State travels to Stetson for a 6:30 p.m. ET first pitch. With the calendar turning toward the heart of conference play, the Seminoles will lean on their ace to keep setting the tone.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Wes Mendes ACC Pitcher of the Week: FSU ace dominates Duke