Baseball Roster is Up - I am surprised

[The Federalist Engineer]

https://hailstate.com/sports/baseball/roster/2025?sort=positionhttps://hailstate.com/sports/baseball/roster/2025?sort=position

I don't see two big Infield recruits

(1) SS-Connor Barth from California
(2) 3B- Henry Allen from Alabama

I did not see participation in the Fall games. Maybe injured?

[MStateDawg]

Both were here in the fall and participated in scrimmages. When Barth decommitted from Oregon State (a few weeks prior to committing to us), a lot of their fans said they thought they were dropping him. I guess his performance didn't match his reputation. Also, true freshman Lukas Buckner had a great fall and he plays the same positions as Barth.

I was at 5 or 6 fall scrimmages and I cant recall Allen doing anything of note.

[Duckdog]

Hell yeah, my boy Rives is going to tear it up

[Homedawg]

https://hailstate.com/sports/baseball/roster/2025?sort=positionhttps://hailstate.com/sports/baseball/roster/2025?sort=position

I don't see two big Infield recruits

(1) SS-Connor Barth from California
(2) 3B- Henry Allen from Alabama

I did not see participation in the Fall games. Maybe injured?

Both left at midterm.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Hell yeah, my boy Rives is going to tear it up

What are realistic expectation for Rives in 2025?

What historical MSU player does he profile as?

[Pancho]

What is the report on ICC transfer Pitcher Ben Davis?

[Saltydog]

IDK but I hope it's better than his performance in JC. 5.7 ERA in 2024.

[Pancho]

throws straight gas

[confucius say]

This roster will change by opening day, fyi. It's not final.

[Todd4State]

This roster will change by opening day, fyi. It's not final.

Yes. But it's pretty close. They're going to cut four players. And I can take an educated guess at who those players will be. I think there were some rumors that Loftin might redshirt to recover from injury. Not sure if that's true or not.

[Todd4State]

What are realistic expectation for Rives in 2025?

What historical MSU player does he profile as?

People are probably going to expect Jake Mangum comps because he played at Prep.

He's probably closer to Elijah MacNamee though. Not saying he has the same clutch gene. Just that his totals will look similar.

[Todd4State]

What is the report on ICC transfer Pitcher Ben Davis?

I wouldn't expect much. The fact that he can catch helps his cause.

[Todd4State]

Both were here in the fall and participated in scrimmages. When Barth decommitted from Oregon State (a few weeks prior to committing to us), a lot of their fans said they thought they were dropping him. I guess his performance didn't match his reputation. Also, true freshman Lukas Buckner had a great fall and he plays the same positions as Barth.

I was at 5 or 6 fall scrimmages and I cant recall Allen doing anything of note.

Butkner is what they were hoping Barth was. I think Allen is a bigger loss because he had a lot more position flexibility but it obviously didn't work out.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Butkner is what they were hoping Barth was. I think Allen is a bigger loss because he had a lot more position flexibility but it obviously didn't work out.

I hope we don't see Allen (top 150 recruit, #5 state rank, and U-15 USA) enrolled at UGA and hitting 18HR for Mini Me ... while MSU is DH'ing a 200 hitter with infield fly power.

[CaptainObvious]

I hope we don't see Allen (top 150 recruit, #5 state rank, and U-15 USA) enrolled at UGA and hitting 18HR for Mini Me ... while MSU is DH'ing a 200 hitter with infield fly power.

Have you seen our run of luck in athletics lately? This is almost guaranteed!

[Goldendawg]

Saw Lemonis at the KY game sitting behind the goal. I figured he would bring his bucket and sit court side!*****

[Pancho]

lol

[Thick]

What?s the opening day lineup going to look like? Feel free to include players to watch

[Todd4State]

P- Pico or Stone
C- Highfill
1B- Hines
2B- Sawyer Reeves
3B- Ace Reese
SS- Dylan Cupp
LF- Chance
CF- O'Brien
RF- Nolan Stevens
DH- Noah Sullivan

[Saltydog]

So did Holcombe so there's that. . . . .

[ZedFedder]

What are we expecting out of Jacob Pruitt from Indiana State?

[MStateDawg]

What are we expecting out of Jacob Pruitt from Indiana State?

High probability that he's a weekend sarter

[MStateDawg]

P- Pico or Stone
C- Highfill
1B- Hines
2B- Sawyer Reeves
3B- Ace Reese
SS- Dylan Cupp
LF- Chance
CF- O'Brien
RF- Nolan Stevens
DH- Noah Sullivan
I'm not positive about Reeves at 2nd, but the rest seems spot on.

[Coach34]

Hearing if we started today- the weekend rotation would be Pico, Ligon, Indiana St

[Todd4State]

Hearing if we started today- the weekend rotation would be Pico, Ligon, Indiana St

The good news is that if Ligon doesn't step up or is inconsistent we have some guys that I think can pitch there. Stone Simmons, Grant, Nolan Stevens, Luke Dotson, etc.

That opening day rotation would probably mean that Stone Simmons is the closer. Kevin Mannell and Chase Hungate are going to be good relief pitchers for us.

If I had to guess that probably means that they are going to use Grant out in a midweek role if I had to guess unless he is lights out from now until opening day.

[Todd4State]

I'm not positive about Reeves at 2nd, but the rest seems spot on.

Reeves was a Brooks Wallace Award nominee at SS for Citadel. He is allegedly a good leader.

[The Federalist Engineer]

The good news is that if Ligon doesn't step up or is inconsistent we have some guys that I think can pitch there. Stone Simmons, Grant, Nolan Stevens, Luke Dotson, etc.

That opening day rotation would probably mean that Stone Simmons is the closer. Kevin Mannell and Chase Hungate are going to be good relief pitchers for us.

If I had to guess that probably means that they are going to use Grant out in a midweek role if I had to guess unless he is lights out from now until opening day.

If Pico, Ligon, and Pruitt are the starters ...

(1) You have Black and Hungate as top echelon relievers that any team in the nation would want. Long relief is huge for college baseball.

Then the dudes we don't talk about much...

(2) Wonder about Siary. He was a weekend starter at the beginning of last season. He was even a weekend starter as a freshman (@LSU). With 49 Innings pitched, he's one of the most experienced non-transfer players.

(3) Fortenberry, he is the reigning National JUCO pitcher of the year. He is a crafty lefty that JC Hitters could not square up. There is something like Houston Hardin in his profile and for old-timey fans, the mighty Tim Henderson from Demopolis Alabama.

(4) Parker has 98 mph freshman arms like Grant (RHP) and Burns (LHP) that are potentially ready to produce after injury years. Grant enrolled and Burns rehabilitated independently. Burns did so well, he was the highest drafted player that enrolled. The D1 people were impressed with Burns and specifically mentioned his impressive fall outings. Would be nice to have a Left and Right version of an 8th inning guy.

(5) Lemons has stated that Charlie Fields (LHP) and Duke Stone (RHP) freshmen are in the weekend mix, Fields would have been drafted but his demands sent him to MSU. Stone is a 6-5 220 teenager that did not pitch as a HS senior but had offers from multiple SEC schools, decommitted from UGA for MSU.

[Tater]

If Pico, Ligon, and Pruitt are the starters ...

(1) You have Black and Hungate as top echelon relievers that any team in the nation would want. Long relief is huge for college baseball.

Then the dudes we don't talk about much...

(2) Wonder about Siary. He was a weekend starter at the beginning of last season. He was even a weekend starter as a freshman (@LSU). With 49 Innings pitched, he's one of the most experienced non-transfer players.

(3) Fortenberry, he is the reigning National JUCO pitcher of the year. He is a crafty lefty that JC Hitters could not square up. There is something like Houston Hardin in his profile and for old-timey fans, the mighty Tim Henderson from Demopolis Alabama.

(4) Parker has 98 mph freshman arms like Grant (RHP) and Burns (LHP) that are potentially ready to produce after injury years. Grant enrolled and Burns rehabilitated independently. Burns did so well, he was the highest drafted player that enrolled. The D1 people were impressed with Burns and specifically mentioned his impressive fall outings. Would be nice to have a Left and Right version of an 8th inning guy.

(5) Lemons has stated that Charlie Fields (LHP) and Duke Stone (RHP) freshmen are in the weekend mix, Fields would have been drafted but his demands sent him to MSU. Stone is a 6-5 220 teenager that did not pitch as a HS senior but had offers from multiple SEC schools, decommitted from UGA for MSU.

You always want to be able to negotiate 27 innings. Whether that's 9 guys going 3 a piece, 3 going 5 a piece + 3 going 3 a piece + 1 guy doing the other 3 closer innings, or what have you.

The most realistic "best case scenario" combo that you see is 6 guys who can get through the lineup twice. If you have that - you're a national champion contender. We have the talent. Just gotta find out who can translate at this level and navigate the metal bats. Need two out pitches. A third pitch is a nice to have. Lot of talent to be excited about - let's see if we put it together this year.

[Coach34]

That opening day rotation would probably mean that Stone Simmons is the closer. Kevin Mannell and Chase Hungate are going to be good relief pitchers for us.

Did Black get hurt and nobody told me?

[Todd4State]

Did Black get hurt and nobody told me?

I forget about him sometimes. LOL. I still think they likely go with Stone as the closer to start the season. And then adjust as the season goes on based on performance.

It is possible that they let Black close and use Simmons as a relief ace like we used Girodo though.

[Coach34]

I forget about him sometimes. LOL. I still think they likely go with Stone as the closer to start the season. And then adjust as the season goes on based on performance.

It is possible that they let Black close and use Simmons as a relief ace like we used Girodo though.

Just shows the depth we have in the pen this year- which is huge. Got to get a reliable lefty to trust

[Homedawg]

If Pico, Ligon, and Pruitt are the starters ...

(1) You have Black and Hungate as top echelon relievers that any team in the nation would want. Long relief is huge for college baseball.

Then the dudes we don't talk about much...

(2) Wonder about Siary. He was a weekend starter at the beginning of last season. He was even a weekend starter as a freshman (@LSU). With 49 Innings pitched, he's one of the most experienced non-transfer players.

(3) Fortenberry, he is the reigning National JUCO pitcher of the year. He is a crafty lefty that JC Hitters could not square up. There is something like Houston Hardin in his profile and for old-timey fans, the mighty Tim Henderson from Demopolis Alabama.

(4) Parker has 98 mph freshman arms like Grant (RHP) and Burns (LHP) that are potentially ready to produce after injury years. Grant enrolled and Burns rehabilitated independently. Burns did so well, he was the highest drafted player that enrolled. The D1 people were impressed with Burns and specifically mentioned his impressive fall outings. Would be nice to have a Left and Right version of an 8th inning guy.

(5) Lemons has stated that Charlie Fields (LHP) and Duke Stone (RHP) freshmen are in the weekend mix, Fields would have been drafted but his demands sent him to MSU. Stone is a 6-5 220 teenager that did not pitch as a HS senior but had offers from multiple SEC schools, decommitted from UGA for MSU.

The fields person you are referring to is Charlie Foster

[The Federalist Engineer]

The fields person you are referring to is Charlie Foster

Yes, I'll probably call him "Fosters" before too long. Charlie Foster.

He was the starter for the 2nd Fall game.

[Homedawg]

Yes, I'll probably call him "Fosters" before too long. Charlie Foster.

He was the starter for the 2nd Fall game.

All good. They really like him. Future Star. But still a fr

[The Federalist Engineer]

All good. They really like him. Future Star. But still a fr

I'm glad you corrected me, I would be calling him Fields forever.

But...

Nearly all the dudes I messed up their Name ended up with great careers. Khal Stevens. Brian Rookers, Dakota Johnson, Gary Raft, Brett Peoples (Pirtle) ... in the radio days we needed Jim Ellis to tell us who was on the team.