OXFORD — If ole miss baseball wants to become the first team to repeat as College World Series champions since South Carolina in 2010-11, the Rebels will likely have to replace some big contributors.
A core group of veterans and transfer portals led the Rebels to their first national championship in program history last month Superstar underclassmen like shortstop Jacob Gonzalez, designated hitter Kemp Alderman and starting pitcher Hunter Elliott will be back, but so many other key players either can’t return or could be tempted by the MLB draft.
Here’s a look at what the Rebels roster could look like in 2023 and what the big questions are for coach Mike Bianco and his team heading into the offseason.
Who goes on the attack?
First baseman Tim Elko, outfielder Hayden Leatherwood and designated hitter Ben Van Cleve are the only players who have exhausted their eligibility and cannot return. But left fielder Kevin Graham, utility Justin Bench, receiver Hayden Dunhurst, outfielder TJ McCants and second baseman Peyton Chatagnier are all eligible for the draft.
Chatagnier appears to be the player most likely to return from this group, but it’s plausible that everyone else will choose to turn pro. Dunhurst and McCants are ranked among Baseball America’s top 250 prospects. Graham and Bench are fourth-year seniors who accomplished just about everything they could have at Ole Miss and would lose money and money if they returned for a fifth season.
What’s left in attack?
If Chatagnier returns, the Rebels will have four easy-to-spot starting spots: Chatagnier at second base, Gonzalez at shortstop, Alderman at designated hitter or first baseman, and Calvin Harris at catcher.
Harris is a natural receiver, so sliding from right field to take over for Dunhurst seems predestined. Replacing the entire outfield would be tricky, but reserves Banks Tolley and John Kramer have both shown potential throughout the year and are the most likely candidates to take over, pending the decision of the top MLB draft. 100 prospect and Ole Miss hires Roman Anthony.
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Infielders Reagan Burford and Garrett Wood are still eligible, as is two-way athlete Tywone Malone. Other names to watch from the Rebels’ signing class include infielders James Smith (Baseball America’s No. 281 draft prospect), Mason Morris, Will Furniss and Judd Utermark and outfielder Nathan Fink.
Who goes on the mound?
Ace Dylan DeLucia feels like a safe bet to go for the MLB draft. He climbed to 207th in the Baseball America class rankings, projecting him as a top 10 round pick.
Seniors John Gaddis and Max Cioffi have exhausted their eligibility and juniors Derek Diamond and Drew McDaniel are in the transfer portal. Closer Brandon Johnson is in the same position as Graham and Bench, likely needing to use his leverage this year instead of waiting another year and letting his financial outlook slip.
Who stays on the mound?
Elliott will return as the weekend starter. Florida transfer Nick Pogue will be a candidate for the weekend rotation. Returning players Jack Washburn and Jack Dougherty have starting experience, and Mason Nichols could make the jump to the rotation after a solid first year as a reliever. Josh Mallitz is the candidate most likely to succeed Johnson as the closest to the rebels.
A big question is how quickly right-hander Riley Maddox can return from Tommy John surgery. The others are how many pitchers the Rebels will add in the transfer portal and which freshman arms will turn pro instead of coming to campus.
Southpaw Jackson Ferris is Baseball America’s No. 36 prospect and would need a major drop to make it to Oxford. Right-handers Grayson Saunier and JT Quinn are the No. 183 and No. 193 prospects and should be slightly easier to sign but are still at risk of turning pro.
Projection of the 2023 lineup of Ole Miss baseball, rotation of the pitchers
- Seeker: Calvin Harris
- First base: Alderman of Kemp
- 2e base : Peyton Chatagnier
- short stop: Jacob Gonzalez
- 3rd baseman: Garrett Wood/Reagan Burford
- Outfield: Tolley Banks
- Outfield: Jean Kramer
- Outfield: Reagan Burford/Freshman/Transfer Portal
- Designated hitter: Reagan Burford/Freshman/Transfer Portal
- Starting pitcher: Hunter Elliott
- Starting pitcher: Jack Washburn
- Starting pitcher: Nick Pogue
- closer: Josh Mallitz
- relief pitcher: Jack Dougherty
- relief pitcher: Mason Nichols
- relief pitcher: Freshman/Transfer Portal
- relief pitcher: Freshman/Transfer Portal
Contact Nick Suss at 601-408-2674 or [email protected]. Follow @nicksuss on Twitter.
