2025 Pitching Staff

This a list of returning roster and portal pitchers. I didn't include HS recruits because I don?t know anything about them, and any contribution from them will just be a bonus. Correct me if I have the status of any of these guy wrong or if I am missing someone.


Current Roster:

Stevens - Will he continue to pitch? The way the staff put regularly put him in high pressure situations tells me they are serious about trying to make it work.

Jackson McKenzie - Portal?

Pico - We have to be counting on him to be a weekend starter.

Loftin - The best kept secret in MSU baseball history. Either a weekend starter of ghost.

Grant - Coming off surgery. Should compete for a weekend spot.

Siary - Kind of hoped he would make a jump this past season, but he didn't. Is he just that guy or is there more potential there.

Simmons - 17 Ks in 9 IP this summer. It would be a great boost if he could stay healthy and be our '25 Khal.

Passeau - Decent JUCO numbers, but didn't pitch in '24. Was he injured?

Black - He really started to put it together at the end of the season and is having a good summer.

Haley - Big guy who only pitched 2 innings in '24.

Ligon - Another Loftin? He struggled with command, but his BA against was only .202. Can he put it together?

*Dotson - Pitched 12 innings in '24


Transfer Portal:

Jacob Pruitt - Good season on a good team. Should compete for a starting spot.

Chase Hungate - Good season on a good team. Looks like he's a bullpen guy.


As I went through this, I started to feel batter about next season. We have some good pieces who can battle to fill in for the losses of Khal an Lo. We just seem to have had a tough time with injuries the last few seasons. I know some of it is "bad luck", but I just think we are due to have a healthier season. Parker is going to work some magic, and I hope his philosophy and evaluation will start to give us a healthier pitching staff.

You left out Luke Dotson. I think he contributes more this year. He was one of the best pitchers in Georgia and dominated in the state playoffs.

What about a closer? Do we have a shut down guy to slam the door or are we hoping one of these turns into that guy?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by StateDawg44

What about a closer? Do we have a shut down guy to slam the door or are we hoping one of these turns into that guy?

---

A few will be in the mix as a closer. Grant has the stuff. Fortenberry was the best closer in JUCO this year. Chase Hungate was UVA's closer. Conrad Cason has a shot at being a closer/high leverage reliever.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bulldogcountry1

This a list of returning roster and portal pitchers. I didn't include HS recruits because I don?t know anything about them, and any contribution from them will just be a bonus. Correct me if I have the status of any of these guy wrong or if I am missing someone.


Current Roster:

Stevens - Will he continue to pitch? The way the staff put regularly put him in high pressure situations tells me they are serious about trying to make it work.

Jackson McKenzie - Portal?

Pico - We have to be counting on him to be a weekend starter.

Loftin - The best kept secret in MSU baseball history. Either a weekend starter of ghost.

Grant - Coming off surgery. Should compete for a weekend spot.

KK Clark - Pitched on inning in '24

Siary - Kind of hoped he would make a jump this past season, but he didn't. Is he just that guy or is there more potential there.

Simmons - 17 Ks in 9 IP this summer. It would be a great boost if he could stay healthy and be our '25 Khal.

Passeau - Decent JUCO numbers, but didn't pitch in '24. Was he injured?

Hardin - Key bullpen arm.

Black - He really started to put it together at the end of the season and is having a good summer.

Haley - Big guy who only pitched 2 innings in '24.

Ligon - Another Loftin? He struggled with command, but his BA against was only .202. Can he put it together?

Holcombe - Major wild card. He's in the portal, but will he transfer if not drafted? I wouldn't expect too much out of him, but I'd also put some effort into keeping him around. I'd rather have him than the bottom 4 pitchers on the roster who won't contribute and will end up transferring to Valdosta State next summer.

*Dotson - Pitched 12 inning in '24

Davis, Schuelke, Auger - Eligibility?


Transfer Portal:

Jacob Pruitt - Good season on a good team. Should compete for a starting spot.

Travis Smith - Had a good '23, but was apparently banged up in '24. Possible draft risk.

Chase Hungate - Good season on a good team. Looks like he?s a bullpen guy.


As I went through this, I started to feel batter about next season. We have some good pieces who can battle to fill in for the losses of Khal an Lo. We just seem to have had a tough time with injuries the last few seasons. I know some of it is "bad luck", but I just think we are due to have a healthier season. Parker is going to work some magic, and I hope his philosophy and evaluation will start to give us a healthier pitching staff.

---

Stevens- Will probably compete for a weekend spot, but would expect him more out of the bullpen and spot starting.

Jackson McKenzie- Legit did not know he even pitched.

Pico- Expect him to be a weekend starter. Would pencil him in for Friday or Saturday

Loftin- He either needs to get rolling or roll on out of the program. If he can't contribute, he is taking up a roster spot.

Grant- Will compete for a weekend spot, but still coming off surgery I would expect he will be a midweek starter, bullpen, spot starter next year.

KK Clark- Would be surprised if he was on the roster next spring.

Siary- Had flashes, but more consistency is needed.

Simmons- Would pencil him in as a closer candidate for now.

Passeau- zero clue who this is.

Hardin- out of eligibility

Black- Another possible closer candidate but will be a valuable arm for us.

Haley- Another guy I would be surprised if he was on the roster in the spring.

Ligon- He will finally be fully healthy. I expect him to compete for a starting spot, but be a key arm for us one way or the other.

Holcombe- Will not be back. He is going pro.

Davis- Out of eligibility

Schuelke- Will be a key arm for us for matchups.

Auger- Out of eligibility I believe.

Pruitt- Will compete for a weekend spot. Would pencil him in either Friday or Saturday.

Travis Smith- Will compete for a weekend spot or a midweek. We need Parker to get him right. Could be a MASSIVE piece for us.

Hungate- Will be a very valuable bullpen arm for us that could also spot start or midweek start. I do not expect him RIGHT NOW to compete for a weekend spot, but that could change.

Wont be as good with weekend SP's in 24 most likely but bullpen should be way better

Augur has another year left. He wants to go pro though. Will see what draft does.

Clark is going juco

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Coach34

Wont be as good with weekend SP's in 24 most likely but bullpen should be way better

---

I trust Parker to get the best out of the starters once they get the starters figured out. Having a deeper and improved bullpen will do wonders for us.

Probably would've erased some of the head scratchers we took L's on this past year and won us the UF series.

Starter Candidates

(1) Pico, (2) Pruitt, (3) Ligon, (4) Smith, (5) Mannell

Relievers and Special Role Candidates

(1) Black, (2) Hungate, (3) Loftin, (4) Stevens, (5) Grant , (6) Dotson, (7) Fortenberry, (8) Schnoor (9) Simmons (10) Passeau

Freshmen Talents
(0) Cason, (1) Booth, (2) O'Leary, (3) McPherson (4) Foster


You only need 5 guys to give a decent season, for most teams, 7 players pitch 80% of the innings

If we had one more guy at the back end to close then we were probably in Omaha.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Federalist Engineer

Starter Candidates

(1) Pico, (2) Pruitt, (3) Ligon, (4) Smith, (5) Mannell

Relievers and Special Role Candidates

(1) Black, (2) Hungate, (3) Loftin, (4) Stevens, (5) Grant , (6) Dotson, (7) Fortenberry, (8) Schnoor (9) Simmons (10) Passeau

Freshmen Talents
(0) Cason, (1) Booth, (2) O'Leary, (3) McPherson (4) Foster


You only need 5 guys to give a decent season, for most teams, 7 players pitch 80% of the innings

---

Uhhhh, Schuelke will be back too.......

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Saltydog

Uhhhh, Schuelke will be back too.......

---

You are right. Put him where you like Coach.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Saltydog

Uhhhh, Schuelke will be back too.......

---

He is a good inning eater but we had to overuse him this year. I hope he is more of a match up guy next year because that will show we have a deeper bullpen.

The ol Cam Opener

He completely needs to be a match-up guy R on R

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bulldogcountry1

This a list of returning roster and portal pitchers. I didn't include HS recruits because I don?t know anything about them, and any contribution from them will just be a bonus. Correct me if I have the status of any of these guy wrong or if I am missing someone.


Current Roster:

Stevens - Will he continue to pitch? The way the staff put regularly put him in high pressure situations tells me they are serious about trying to make it work.

Jackson McKenzie - Portal?

Pico - We have to be counting on him to be a weekend starter.

Loftin - The best kept secret in MSU baseball history. Either a weekend starter of ghost.

Grant - Coming off surgery. Should compete for a weekend spot.

Siary - Kind of hoped he would make a jump this past season, but he didn't. Is he just that guy or is there more potential there.

Simmons - 17 Ks in 9 IP this summer. It would be a great boost if he could stay healthy and be our '25 Khal.

Passeau - Decent JUCO numbers, but didn't pitch in '24. Was he injured?

*Hardin - Listed as a Jr, but seems to be out of eligibility.

Black - He really started to put it together at the end of the season and is having a good summer.

Haley - Big guy who only pitched 2 innings in '24.

Ligon - Another Loftin? He struggled with command, but his BA against was only .202. Can he put it together?

Holcombe - Major wild card. He's in the portal, but will he transfer if not drafted? I wouldn't expect too much out of him, but I'd also put some effort into keeping him around. I'd rather have him than the bottom 4 pitchers on the roster who won't contribute and will end up transferring to Valdosta State next summer.

*Dotson - Pitched 12 innings in '24

*Schuelke - Solid RH matchup guy

*Auger - Waiting on the draft


Transfer Portal:

Jacob Pruitt - Good season on a good team. Should compete for a starting spot.

Travis Smith - Had a good '23, but was apparently banged up in '24. Possible draft risk.

Chase Hungate - Good season on a good team. Looks like he's a bullpen guy.


As I went through this, I started to feel batter about next season. We have some good pieces who can battle to fill in for the losses of Khal an Lo. We just seem to have had a tough time with injuries the last few seasons. I know some of it is "bad luck", but I just think we are due to have a healthier season. Parker is going to work some magic, and I hope his philosophy and evaluation will start to give us a healthier pitching staff.

---

I will be very carefully with this statement, there is a pitcher you listed unless he gets his head straight and works hard and stop thinking he will be drafted w/o working hard. He is pretty arrogant in his thinking and approach. Pretty soft but maybe things have changed, I hope so.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by basedog

I will be very carefully with this statement, there is a pitcher you listed unless he gets his head straight and works hard and stop thinking he will be drafted w/o working hard. He is pretty arrogant in his thinking and approach. Pretty soft but maybe things have changed, I hope so.

---

Since I listed them all?

I feel like I can narrow it down to 2.

I think Gavin black has the tools to be a beast of a closer. Hard fb. Huge 12/6 breaking ball.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bulldogcountry1

Since I listed them all?

I feel like I can narrow it down to 2.

---

Probably every college baseball roster in America has 1 or 2 good players with a mental issue. That's why we call all recruits, "prospects", baseball gives you nothing guaranteed.

Florida lost Cade Fisher to the portal. Huge recruit and even produced a Freshman All American season. Usually, kids that start right, stay right. LSU is dumping many top-100 former recruits and getting shiny, new portal kids.

Hard work, dedication, discipline and desire are keys in being successful. Not being told by a Coach, parent and media outlets on how good you are will bring success. I have said this before, I hate the word "potential". JMO

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by basedog

Hard work, dedication, discipline and desire are keys in being successful. Not being told by a Coach, parent and media outlets on how good you are will bring success. I have said this before, I hate the word "potential". JMO

---

I love it in Rocky I when the bookmaker asks Rocky ... "Do you believe that America is the land of Opportunity?"

Great DNA endowments, plus a willingness to learn, develop, and grow can take you anywhere in this great country.

Updated.

We're screwed.

Prayers and the portal for spring '25

We will be just as good in 25 as we were in 24

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bulldogcountry1

Updated.

We're screwed.

---

Yep. This really sucks

Who did we lose? I've been out of the loop.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bulldogcountry1

Updated.

We're screwed.

---

Not screwed, just not overtly better and other schools apparently snagged better portal reinforcements. From MSU's draft loses, Travis Smith was not guaranteed to be an SEC Ace in 2025. He could have been, maybe. Conrad Cason could have become a 100MPH, marquee National Ace in 2026/2027, but Red Sox gave him $1.2M to steal him in 2024 as an 8th rounder. But even Cason was not a lock to be SEC dominant in 2025. Hardin gone, big blow, Gavin Black could replace him. MSU expected Dohm and JC to go. Pico and Pruett are the step up guys. Pruett is approximately Dohm's replacement. Zach Davis ate a lot of innings in 2024, but Hungate is picking that up. Stephen hopefully gets replaced by Ligon or Mannell. Stone Simmons could be a big contributor. Haven't seen him play since that crazy Tulane series where he and Landon Sims got injured in 2022.

In the Portal, all the top prospect pitchers went to other schools. The Ohio State kid to Arkansas, the ECU kid to Arkansas, the Creighton kid to Auburn, the Florida basket case to Auburn, Texas A&M got the Long Beach Kid. Even the Ole Miss bust kids went to Tex and UGA. I don't know if the legend of Justin Parker was built-up enough to help in 2024. But also, there is not a Todd Skenes on this list, nobody that is a marquee 1st rounder or guaranteed All-SEC. Seems the ECU kid was the very best recruit, expect him to win lots of SEC games.

My Starter Candidates:

(1) Kohn, (2) Ligon, (3) Pruett (4) Mannell (5) Simmons

My Long Relief Candidates

(1) Black, (2) Hungate (3) Loftin, (4) Dotson (5) Grant (6) Siary (7) Stevens (8) Schnoor, (9) Passeau (10) Fortenberry

Closer Candidates

(1) Simmons?

Pedigree Freshmen:

(1) Booth, (2) Fields, (3) Burns [97mph LHP] (4) O'Leary, (5) McPherson

Specific Players not to sleep on:

(a) Ligon was a big recruit and was a starter for a big ACC program, before injury. Cape Cod worthy in 2024.
(b) Loftin was a big recruit and has never been bad, just not healthy. He's due.
(c) Siary has been good to start SEC games, even as a Freshman, means the coaches see much in him.
(d) Parker's JC transfers, Fortenberry, Schnoor, and Mannell are low WHIP guys. Mannell is a K guy with low BB and sub 200 batting against.

Just need 6 to 8 kids to be good by Spring, then you have a collegiate staff.

I still think Burns can contribute as well. No reason this isn't a competent staff on a top 12-15 ranked team all next season.

The biggest wild cards will be:

1. Loftin- can he finally put it together?

2. Grant- Has starter stuff. Will he be full go in time to compete for a rotation spot.

3. Hungate- What will we get out of him? Can he make the jump to starter

Yall going to be disappointed with the rotation but it'll settle in. It's not as good and won't be but the pen is deep.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cooterpoot

Yall going to be disappointed with the rotation but it'll settle in. It's not as good and won't be but the pen is deep.

---

Yes- we are going from one of the best Rotation's in the country to one of the best bullpens in the country. Got to find 3 guys to start that can eat some innings

Speaking of pitchers. Cade just got promoted the Hudson Valley which is the Yankees high class A team. He has been doing well and things are coming together for him. Just saying, he is one driven young man.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Coach34

We will be just as good in 25 as we were in 24

---

I'd take that bet. Think whip and era will be worse.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by basedog

Speaking of pitchers. Cade just got promoted the Hudson Valley which is the Yankees high class A team. He has been doing well and things are coming together for him. Just saying, he is one driven young man.

---

I saw an ESPN article about the top pitchers of each farm system and Cade was listed for the Yankees. Great to see him doing well.

Landon Sims was listed for the Diamondbacks in the article.

Cerantola is now in AAA

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

I saw an ESPN article about the top pitchers of each farm system and Cade was listed for the Yankees. Great to see him doing well.

Landon Sims was listed for the Diamondbacks in the article.

---

Thanks, yes he is watched closely by the Yankees, love how they are working with him and how they are using him. His Tampa team wasn't all that good, Hudson Valley brought him up to help clinch a playoff spot. He loved Tampa and he is excited about his next adventure, he landed in New York today.