Ole Miss baseball's opening weekend rotation has been set
While not publicly announced yet, the Ole Miss Spirit has confirmed the full rotation for Ole Miss baseball’s opening weekend and the starter for its first mid-week game of the 2022 season.
Derek Diamond was already announced as the opening day starter two weeks ago. Backing up Diamond on Saturday will be transfer John Gaddis followed by Drew McDaniel on Sunday.
The Texas A&M – Corpus Christi transfer was considered to be a favorite for one of the two open weekend slots but the Saturday and Sunday slots had not been finalized leading up to opening day.
Getting the start against Arkansas State next Tuesday is Oregon State transfer Jack Washburn. Washburn was considered another strong candidate for the weekend but he’ll get his first start as a Rebel against the Wolfpack.
The duo of Diamond and McDaniel are not strangers to the weekend. In fact, Diamond was in the weekend rotation to start the season but was replaced by McDaniel as a Sunday arm during a portion of the 2021 campaign.
Diamond finished last season with a 3-5 record and 5.26 earned run average over 75.1 innings pitched with 82 strikeouts and 32 walks in 20 appearances, including 14 starts. McDaniel made 20 total appearances, including 13 starts, and finished with a 5-2 record, 6.08 ERA over 63.2 innings pitched with 72 strikeouts and 22 walks.
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The weekend rotation is tasked with trying to fill the void left by Doug Nikhazy and Gunnar Hoglund from a season ago. Both Nikhazy and Hoglund were both taken in last summer’s MLB Draft.
At Oregon State last season Washburn pitched 34.2 innings and gave up 22 hits, one double, a home run and racked up 43 strikeouts. He finished the 2021 season with a 3.12 earned run average.
A Second Team All-Southland member, Gaddis was strong for the Islanders last season. The left-hander finished the season with 72 strikeouts, 42 hits and a 2.25 ERA and a 7-6 record in 64 innings of work.
Ole Miss opens the season against Charleston Southern on Friday with first pitch set for 4 p.m. CT. Saturday and Sunday’s games are set for 1:30 p.m. CT start times. Next Tuesday’s game against Arkansas State will start at 4 p.m. CT. All games will air on SEC Network+.
