So we are now at 6 players drafted in the Top 9 rounds

[Cooterpoot]

My stance has always been that Foxhall was the biggest issue. After this year I think it's pretty hard to argue against that.

Except he brought in arms. God awful coach, but he's recruited pretty solid. Take out our pitchers and our draft was trash.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Except he brought in arms. God awful coach, but he's recruited pretty solid. Take out our pitchers and our draft was trash.

Yep! People want to say that Lemo is a CEO coach with a hitting background, so Fox also handles recruiting. But now they want to give Lemo credit for Fox's recruiting. Fact is, Lemo has misevaluated a LOT of position players over the years leaving us with odd holes in the lineup and only a couple drafted guys this year.

He also made an A+ hire to replace Fox, thereby unlocking all the potential of Foxs recruits. He also was in the host discussion and finished 5th in the SEC. It's not ALL bad against Lemo, but it's funny that people are trying to give him credit for our pitching draft picks when a year ago they claimed the opposite, all while ignoring the relative lack of talent on Lemos side of the recruiting

[Pancho]

He's very lucky and is a weak evaluator overall. He has had 6 years to validate this but he might be here for 10 years if last year is considered good enough annually.

[CovertDawg]

ESPN's MLB draft analyst has 2025 Mississippi State Commitment Jacob Parker out of Purvis as the 40th ranked prospect (includes college and high school players) for next year's draft. I saw he won the high school home run derby at the MLB All Star game. His twin brother, Jojo, is also committed. Jacob is the corner outfielder power bat and JoJo is the slick fielding versatile middle infielder.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/sto...ect-prediction

[Todd4State]

Except he brought in arms. God awful coach, but he's recruited pretty solid. Take out our pitchers and our draft was trash.

Also on this year's team- Hunter Hines who was undrafted but likely will be the school's all time home run hitter in his career.

Ross Highfill who would have helped the offense out a lot. And the two guys that he recruited who were intended to be back ups were solid considering what they were initially recruited for. Powell hit .357 in SEC play.

Logan Kohler- solid player when healthy. Which was rare. And was borderline elite defensively even when not healthy.

Bryce Chance- solid player who had higher average and OBP than Mershon did in SEC play. And was actually a better player in SEC play than OOC play.

Amani Larry- another solid player who gave us two pretty solid years and chipped in 15 home runs for us over those two years.

That also doesn't include Dylan Cupp who also was hurt much of the year and got injured right when it appeared as if he was turning the corner at the plate.

That's our undrafted "trash"- which is a good way to describe most of your baseball takes.

[Todd4State]

ESPN's MLB draft analyst has 2025 Mississippi State Commitment Jacob Parker out of Purvis as the 40th ranked prospect (includes college and high school players) for next year's draft. I saw he won the high school home run derby at the MLB All Star game. His twin brother, Jojo, is also committed. Jacob is the corner outfielder power bat and JoJo is the slick fielding versatile middle infielder.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/sto...ect-prediction

"Weak evaluator of talent"- MSU fans.

[Pinto]

"Weak evaluator of talent"- MSU fans.

The Parker boys are state fans and want to come here. Some kids are just like that. Plus Jacob is on the rise.

I do find it funny though that at the last PBR event in MS there were over 400 coaches/scouts including Tony V but no 🍋

[StateDawg44]

"Weak evaluator of talent"- MSU fans.

Every year we have committed players that are ranked very highly for the next years draft. Yet we never can seem to get them to campus.

So yeah I guess he "evaluated" those players but who gives a damn if we don't actually get them to campus.

Not saying Lemonis failed on these or anything because 95% of these kids were never coming to begin with. But let's not pretend like he went out and found some looked over player and found him because he saw something no one else saw.

[State82]

Every year we have committed players that are ranked very highly for the next years draft. Yet we never can seem to get them to campus.

So yeah I guess he "evaluated" those players but who gives a damn if we don't actually get them to campus.

Not saying Lemonis failed on these or anything because 95% of these kids were never coming to begin with. But let's not pretend like he went out and found some looked over player and found him because he saw something no one else saw.

But you absolutely have to go after those players. Always, because you never know how things will play out with the draft, negotiations with MLB teams, NIL, etc. And especially now that the baseball scholarships are going to 34/35 whatever it is. That gives a coach a lot to play with.

[Homedawg]

Every year we have committed players that are ranked very highly for the next years draft. Yet we never can seem to get them to campus.

So yeah I guess he "evaluated" those players but who gives a damn if we don't actually get them to campus.

Not saying Lemonis failed on these or anything because 95% of these kids were never coming to begin with. But let's not pretend like he went out and found some looked over player and found him because he saw something no one else saw.

WE get numerous guys ranked highly to campus. But can't get them all. Every school, who is recruiting the right guys lose some. Part of it.

[BrunswickDawg]

Every year we have committed players that are ranked very highly for the next years draft. Yet we never can seem to get them to campus.

So yeah I guess he "evaluated" those players but who gives a damn if we don't actually get them to campus.

Not saying Lemonis failed on these or anything because 95% of these kids were never coming to begin with. But let's not pretend like he went out and found some looked over player and found him because he saw something no one else saw.

This is just not true.
2019 - 4 Top 150 Players, Lost 1 to the draft
2020 - 6 Top 150, Lost 2
2021 - 6 Top 150, Lost 3
2022 - 5 Top 150, Lost 1
2023 - 5 Top 150, Lost 2
2024 - 4 Top 150, Nori has signed, I can't find if Cason has signed (which would be huge if he hasn't)

If Cason has signed, that still means we are getting 67% of of Top 150 rated signees to campus. That's pretty solid.

Or, it would have been considered very solid if Tennessee and LSU, and likely others, hadn't opened up huge checkbooks.
Tennessee had 9 Top 150 each of the past 2 seasons, and hardly any signed pro contracts.
LSU had 11, and same thing. The money has shifted in baseball and its likely going to hurt us.

[StateDawg44]

If Cason has signed, that still means we are getting 67% of of Top 150 rated signees to campus. That's pretty solid.

Or, it would have been considered very solid if Tennessee and LSU, and likely others, hadn't opened up huge checkbooks.
Tennessee had 9 Top 150 each of the past 2 seasons, and hardly any signed pro contracts.
LSU had 11, and same thing. The money has shifted in baseball and its likely going to hurt us.

So down to 25% now, eh? So the current top teams are more than doubling our top 150 commits.... PLUS getting them to campus.

[Todd4State]

So down to 25% now, eh? So the current top teams are more than doubling our top 150 commits.... PLUS getting them to campus.

What? We literally signed as many top 150 players as Tennessee and only 2 less than LSU the last two years.

They aren't getting that many more to campus than us either. Meaning we are right there in terms of overall talent. The two high school recruits we lost were a guy who was rated in the 50's and got drafted in the first round way above his ranking. The other got drafted in the 8th round and it took over a million to get him to sign when the slot was around 200-300k.

This year we gambled and lost. Which could have just as easily happened to Tennessee or LSU. Just like we gambled last year and got Cupp, Grant, Stevens, and Dotson to campus.

[StateDawg44]

What? We literally signed as many top 150 players as Tennessee and only 2 less than LSU the last two years.

They aren't getting that many more to campus than us either. Meaning we are right there in terms of overall talent. The two high school recruits we lost were a guy who was rated in the 50's and got drafted in the first round way above his ranking. The other got drafted in the 8th round and it took over a million to get him to sign when the slot was around 200-300k.

This year we gambled and lost. Which could have just as easily happened to Tennessee or LSU. Just like we gambled last year and got Cupp, Grant, Stevens, and Dotson to campus.

Just replying to Brunswick's numbers he threw out there.

"Tennessee had 9 Top 150 each of the past 2 seasons, and hardly any signed pro contracts.
LSU had 11, and same thing. The money has shifted in baseball and its likely going to hurt us."

[Coach34]

The money has shifted in baseball and its likely going to hurt us."

That is 100% true but fortunately where we are is still above most of NCAA teams. The top of the SEC will be tough to deal with- but no reason we cant remain a Top 20 program

[Todd4State]

Just replying to Brunswick's numbers he threw out there.

"Tennessee had 9 Top 150 each of the past 2 seasons, and hardly any signed pro contracts.
LSU had 11, and same thing. The money has shifted in baseball and it's likely going to hurt us."

I was too. We had 5 in 2023 and 4 in 2024 which equals 9 the last two years. The same as Tennessee.

[State82]

That is 100% true but fortunately where we are is still above most of NCAA teams. The top of the SEC will be tough to deal with- but no reason we cant remain a Top 20 program

Which is where we typically land on average if you really take into account the time period over the last 50 years, plus or minus.

[cheewgumm]

Now we have to fire Lemonis because he cant coach.

Who couldnt win with all this talent!?!??

I kid I kid