KSR's 2025 SEC Baseball Preview: Mississippi State

With the 2025 College Baseball season just around the corner, KSR will be previewing all 15 SEC teams that will be competing with Kentucky for an SEC crown this season. Up next; the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs returned to form last season, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since winning the whole thing in 2021. From 2022 to 2023, the Bulldogs posted a combined 53-56 (18-42) record and missed the Tournament in back-to-back seasons. Last season however, Chris LeMonis’ team compiled a 40-23 (17-13) record to earn a spot as the No. 2 seed in the Charlottesville Regional.

The Bulldogs however were no match for the No. 1 seeded Virginia Cavaliers, falling to them in both matchups. Virginia would go on to win the Charlottesville Regional and reach the Men’s College World Series. Mississippi State will open the season at No. 18 in D1Baseball’s Preseason Top 25 Rankings.

Returning Players:

• Sr. INF/OF Hunter Hines (2024: 63 G, .257 AVG, 9 2B, 16 HR, 56 RBI, .486 SLG%, .346 OBP%)
• Sr. OF Bryce Chance (2024: 61 G, .286 AVG, 11 2B, 6 HR, 36 RBI, .429 SLG%, .370 OBP%)
• Gr. C Joe Powell (2024: 34 G, .269 AVG, 3 2B, 5 HR, 18 RBI, .462 SLG%, .343 OBP%)
• Sr. INF/OF Aaron Downs (2024: 30 G, .305 AVG, 4 2B, 0 HR, 9 RBI, .347 SLG%, .394 OBP%)
• Sr. INF Nate Chester (2024: 28 G, .206 AVG, 2 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .265 SLG%, .386 OBP%)
• So. INF/OF Ethan Pulliam (2024: 27 G, .227 AVG, 5 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, .348 SLG%, .307 OBP%)
• So. OF Michael O’Brien (2024: 24 G, .125 AVG, 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .125 SLG%, .462 OBP%)
• So. INF Dylan Cupp (2024: 22 G, .258 AVG, 4 2B, 0 HR, 13 RBI, .318 SLG%, .367 OBP%)
• So. INF/C Steven Spalitta (2024: 8 G, .100 AVG, 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .100 SLG%, .250 OBP%)
• Jr. C Ross Highfill (2024: 4 G, .100 AVG, 0 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .100 SLG%, .214 OBP%)

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• Sr. LHP Pico Kohn (2024: 9 APP, 8 GS, 1-1, 3.38 ERA, 29 1/3 IP, 35 K, 11 BB, .234 B/AVG)
• So. LHP Nolan Stevens (2024: 14 APP, 1 GS, 2-3, 4.72 ERA, 26 2/3 IP, 28 K, 8 BB, .260 B/AVG)
• Sr. RHP Karson Ligon (2024: 15 APP, 2 GS, 1-0, 4.56 ERA, 23 2/3 IP, 21 K, 21 BB, .202 B/AVG)
• Jr. RHP Evan Siary (2024: 10 APP, 4 GS, 0-3, 7.48 ERA, 21 2/3 IP, 22 K, 6 BB, .304 B/AVG)
• Jr. RHP Gavin Black (2024: 12 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 5.93 ERA, 13 2/3 IP, 22 K, 8 BB, .250 B/AVG)
• So. LHP Luke Dotson (2024: 11 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 8.25 ERA, 12 IP, 19 K, 5 BB, .294 B/AVG)
• Jr. LHP Bradley Loftin (2024: 3 APP, 2 GS, 0-0, 3.38 ERA, 8 IP, 12 K, 1 BB, .233 B/AVG)

Departing Players:

• So. OF Dakota Jordan (2024: 63 G, .354 AVG, 14 2B, 20 HR, 72 RBI, .671 SLG%, .459 OBP% – 4th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Sr. INF Amani Larry (2024: 63 G, .252 AVG, 13 2B, 8 HR, 33 RBI, .413 SLG%, .394 OBP% – Graduated)
• So. IF David Mershon (2024: 58 G, .347 AVG, 12 2B, 6 HR, 41 RBI, .500 SLG%, .454 OBP% – 18th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Sr. INF Logan Kohler (2024: 57 G, .244 AVG, 10 2B, 6 HR, 32 RBI, .389 SLG%, .351 OBP% – Graduated)
• Sr. INF/OF Connor Hujsak (2024: 56 G, .325 AVG, 13 2B, 9 HR, 49 RBI, .555 SLG%, .413 OBP% – 13th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Gr. C Johnny Long (2024: 43 G, .188 AVG, 0 2B, 1 HR, 12 RBI, .214 SLG%, .354 OBP% – Graduated)
• Fr. INF/OF Jackson McKenzie (2024: 11 G, .188 AVG, 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .188 SLG%, .316 OBP% – Transfer Portal)

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• Jr. RHP Khal Stephen (2024: 16 APP, 16 GS, 8-3, 3.28 ERA, 96 IP, 107 K, 21 BB, .213 B/AVG – 2nd Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• So. BHP Jurrangelo Cijntje (2024: 16 APP, 16 GS, 8-2, 3.67 ERA, 90 2/3 IP, 113 K, 30 BB, .211 B/AVG – 1st Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Sr. RHP Cam Schuelke (2024: 32 APP, 0 GS, 5-3, 4.21 ERA, 47 IP, 47 K, 23 BB, .243 B/AVG – 19th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Sr. RHP Brooks Auger (2024: 20 APP, 5 GS, 1-2, 3.35 ERA, 45 2/3 IP, 50 K, 17 BB, .215 B/AVG – 6th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Jr. RHP Tyson Hardin (2024: 25 APP, 2 GS, 3-3, 3.22 ERA, 36 1/3 IP, 36 K, 23 BB, .250 B/AVG – 12th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Sr. LHP Tyler Davis (2024: 28 APP, 0 GS, 6-1, 2.80 ERA, 35 1/3 IP, 41 K, 14 BB, .211 B/AVG – 15th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Jr. RHP Nate Dohm (2024: 8 APP, 6 GS, 4-0, 1.23 ERA, 29 1/3 IP, 37 K, 4 BB, .217 B/AVG – 3rd Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Jr. RHP Colby Holcombe (2024: 12 APP, 1 GS, 1-1, 10.38 ERA, 21 2/3 IP, 28 K, 12 BB, .302 B/AVG – 9th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Jr. LHP Cole Cheatham (2024: 9 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 4.70 ERA, 7 2/3 IP, 6 K, 7 BB, .194 B/AVG – Transferred to UAB)
• So. RHP Logan Forsythe (2024: 6 APP, 0 GS, 0-1, 10.13 ERA, 5 1/3 IP, 11 K, 3 BB, .200 B/AVG – Transferred to Louisiana Tech)
• Fr. RHP Gage Haley (2024: 1 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 IP, 2 K, 2 BB, .000 B/AVG – Transfer Portal)
• Fr. RHP KK Clark (2024: 2 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 36.00 ERA, 1 IP, 2 K, 0 BB, .500 B/AVG)
• So. LHP Max Miller (2024: 1 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 IP, 0 K, 1 BB, .000 B/AVG – Transfer Portal)

Incoming Transfers:

• Sr. DH Noah Sullivan (2024: 57 G, .324 AVG, 8 2B, 17 HR, 56 RBI, .613 SLG%, .453 OBP% – Transferred from USC Upstate)
• Sr. INF Sawyer Reeves (2024: 48 G, .304 AVG, 10 2B, 5 HR, 31 RBI, .445 SLG%, .377 OBP%- Transferred from The Citadel)
• So. INF Ace Reese (2024: 48 G, .278 AVG, 8 2B, 7 HR, 34 RBI, .506 SLG%, .395 OBP% – Transferred from Houston)
• Sr. INF Reed Stallman (2024: 47 G, .239 AVG, 6 2B, 15 HR, 53 RBI, .560 SLG%, .441 OBP% – Transferred from Campbell)
• Sr. INF Gehrig Frei (2024: 41 G, .312 AVG, 9 2B, 12 HR, 37 RBI, .599 SLG%, .401 OBP% – Transferred from North Alabama)

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• Sr. RHP Chase Hungate (2024: 30 APP, 0 GS, 7-2, 3.74 ERA, 53 IP, 37 K, 13 BB – Transferred from Virginia)
• Jr. RHP Jacob Pruitt (2024: 13 APP, 5 GS, 3-2, 3.02 ERA, 41 2/3 IP, 57 K, 23 BB, .232 B/AVG – Transferred from Indiana State)

Mississippi State had a whopping 11 players selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, two more than any other school (LSU had nine). This included three offensive players and a resounding eight pitchers, returning just five arms that started at least one game this year (17 combined starts). Former Kentucky right-handed pitcher Travis Smith transferred to Mississippi State in the offseason, but was selected in the 2024 MLB Draft and won’t be pitching for the Bulldogs.

To replace 418 lost innings of work on the mound, State brought in just two arms from the Transfer Portal in Virginia right-hander Chase Hungate and Indiana State right-hander Jacob Pruitt. Pruitt pitched against Kentucky in the 2024 Lexington Regional, allowing six hits and three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. Entering the 2025 season, there is definitely major uncertainty in the Bulldog pitching staff.

On the offensive side of the ball however, Chris Lemonis’ team returns two major contributors from last year’s team in 2023 First Team All-SEC selection senior first baseman Hunter Hines and senior outfielder Bryce Chance. Hines and Chance are the two lone returnees to have played in more than 35 games last season, but they were both instrumental in Hail State’s Tournament berth. The Bulldogs however will be reeling from the loss of 2024 Second Team All-American Dakota Jordan and 2024 First Team All-SEC Team selection David Mershon among others.

Suffering from major losses, expect a bit of a step back for the Bulldogs this season.

Mississippi State is scheduled to face just three SEC teams present in D1Baseball’s Preseason Top 25 Rankings this season (at No. 3 LSU, at No. 10 Florida, No. 19 Texas). Talk about luck of the draw.

After not meeting last season, Kentucky will travel to Dudy Noble Field the weekend of May 2-4. The last time these two teams met, the Cats swept the Bulldogs at Kentucky Proud Park in 2023. Mississippi State however still leads the all-time series against Kentucky 63-43.