Tampa RHP Alex Canney commits to Ole Miss over Florida and Oklahoma
It’s been a busy month for Ole Miss baseball. Between the portal and keeping some of its 2025 signees away from the MLB Draft, Mike Bianco and Co., have been working hard. And on Wednesday, another product of hard work showed when Tampa right-handed pitcher Alex Canney committed to the Rebels.
The 6-foot-1, 200 pound prospect chose the Rebels over notable offers from Florida and Oklahoma. In 2024, the Durant (Fla.) recruit appeared in 19 games, finished with a 14-3 record and had 99 strikeouts in 106.2 innings pitched. Opponents hit just .259 against him and he posted a 3.21 earned run average.
Tampa finished the year 52-8(!) and won the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship against Angelo State. It was the school’s ninth title.
Alex Canney was a key cog to Tampa hoisting the national championship trophy.
In the title game, the newest Rebel pitched five innings, scattered four hits and struck out two. In the first round game against Indianapolis, Canney got the start and threw six innings, giving up three runs while striking out eight.
Ole Miss landed two of its top signees this week as well.
Top 100 prospect Cade Townsend announced Tuesday he was going to Ole Miss. Townsend finished his lone high school season with 96 strikeouts in 63 innings with a 6-0 record. He posted a 1.56 earned run average and held opponents to a .165 average. The Orange County Register named him the Pitcher of the Year. MLB listed him as the 150th-ranked prospect in this year’s draft.
The 21st overall prospect, Owen Paino, also announced this week he would be opting out of the MLB Draft and playing for the Rebels in 2025. The Ole Miss signee led the Storm (20-3) to the Class AAA tournament in 2024, hitting .532(!) with 28 runs batted in, 37 runs and 22 stolen bases. Paino posted a stellar .722 on-base percentage, and hit four home runs as well. The No. 21 overall prospect in the Class of 2024, per Perfect Game, was named the 2024 Section 1 Player of the Year and was a 2023 Perfect Game All-American Game selection.
