Gene Swindoll
OLE MISS' WEBSITE ADDRESS: Baseball website link
OLE MISS' 2021 RECORD: The Rebels were 45-22 overall and 18-12 in the SEC last season. They ended their season in a Super Regional.
OLE MISS' HEAD COACH: Mike Bianco is heading into his 22nd year as Ole Miss' head baseball coach. In his first 21 seasons, his teams have an overall record of 812-462 and were 328-271 in the SEC. Of the 20 teams that were eligible for post-season play, 17 have advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Seven of those have moved on to Super Regionals with one of those advancing to the College World Series.
OLE MISS' 2022 ROSTER: Ole Miss' roster includes 10 seniors, 16 juniors, eight sophom*ores and 11 freshmen. The roster includes 22 pitchers, 1 pitcher/outfielder, 1 pitcher/infielder, 4 catchers, 7 infielders, 6 outfielders and 3 outfielder/infielders.
OLE MISS' PLAYERS LOST: Ole Miss lost three key position players and seven key pitchers from last year's squad. The position players were starting first baseman Cael Baker (GP-52/GS-44, .208 batting average, 5 home runs and 28 RBIs), junior outfielder John Rhys Plumlee (47/18, .267, 1-7) and late-inning defensive outfielder replacement Cade Sammons (40/0, .111, 0-1).
The seven pitchers included two SEC starters Doug Nikhazy (GP-16/GS-15, 12-2 won-loss record, 2.45 ERA) and Gunnar Hoglund (11/11, 4-2, 2.87). The relievers lost were closer Taylor Broadway (30/1, 4/3, 16 Saves, 3.44), Tyler Myers (21/3, 4-2, 5.57), Austin Miller (21/0, 1-1, 1 S, 5.00), Cody Adco*ck (14/2, 0.0, 6.41) and Braden Forsyth (13/0, 0-1, 1 S, 7.71).
OLE MISS' RETURNING STARTERS: Eight position starters return, including sophom*ore shortstop Jacob Gonzalez (GP-67/GS-67, .355 batting average, 12 home runs, 55 RBIs), senior left fielder Kevin Graham (67/67, .342, 14-56), senior utility starter (first base/third base) Tim Elko (49/42, .325, 16-53), senior third baseman Justin Bench (65/65, .307, 7-39), sophom*ore center fielder TJ McCants (60/56, .300, 5-35), senior right fielder Hayden Leatherwood (63/58, .285, 7-33), junior catcher Hayden Dunhurst (65/65, .280, 7-43) and junior second baseman Peyton Chatagnier (56/56, .271, 6-43). Dunhurst is a potential 1st to 2nd round draft pick in the 2022 MLB draft, while McCants is a potential4th round draft pick. Gonzales is a potential 1st round draft pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
The Rebels return two starting pitchers from last year's squad - junior RHPs Derek Diamond (GP-20/GS-14, 3-5 won-loss record, 5.26 ERA) and Drew McDaniel (20/13, 5-2, 6.08). Both had seven SEC starts last season. Diamond is a potential 3rd round draft pick in the 2022 MLB draft.
OLE MISS' KEY RESERVES RETURNING: Two key reserve position players return from last year's squad, including senior infielder Ben Van Cleve (GP-44/GS-28, .255 batting average, 0 home runs, 15 RBIs) and sophom*ore catcher Calvin Harris (41/17, .208, 2-18). Although he didn't play last season due to shoulder surgery, third-year sophom*ore center fielder Jerrion Ealy returns to the active roster this coming season.
Five key relief pitchers return from last year's squad - junior LHP Jackson Kimbrell (GP-24/GS-0, 5-1 won-loss record, 5.74 ERA), sophom*ore RHP Josh Mallitz (17/6, 4-1, 7.33), senior RHP Brandon Johnson (18/0, 1-0, 1 S, 4.70), sophom*ore RHP Jack Dougherty (12/2, 2-2, 5.40) and junior RHP Wes Burton (15/0, 0-0, 3.57).
(What's happening with the Mississippi State Bulldogs? Make sure you are in the loop --- take five seconds to Sign up for our FREE Bulldogs newsletters now!)
OLE MISS' NEWCOMERS: Ole Miss welcomes 18 newcomers, eight transfers and 10 freshmen. The transfers are 6-2 junior RHP jack Washburn (Oregon State), 6-0 senior LHP John Gaddis (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi), 6-6 junior RHP Matt Parenteau (Parkland College), 6-0 junior RHP Noah Magee (Hinds CC), 6-1 junior RHP Dylan DeLucia (Northwest Florida State), 5-11 junior catcher Hayden Scarbrough (R/R, Northeast MS CC), 6-0 sophom*ore infielder Reagan Burford (R/R, Northwest Florida State) and 6-0 junior outfielder Banks Tolley (R/R, Meridian CC). The freshmen are 6-3 LHP Hunter Elliott, 6-1 LHP Luke Ellis, 6-1 RHP Riley Maddox, 6-5 RHP Mason Nichols, 6-0 RHP Brayden Jones, 5-10 RHP Brayden Sanders, 6-0 RHP Blake McGehee, 6-0 infielder Tim Simay (R/R), 6-4 infielder Tywone Malone (R/R) and 6-1 outfielder John Kramer (L/L).
PROJECTING OLE MISS' 2022 SEASON: Other than their starting first baseman, Cael Baker (.208, 5-28), the Rebels return all of their position players and their key backup position players. But they should easily be able to replace Baker in the lineup and be much improved hitting-wise at that position. They should once again be a very good-hitting team with power in the middle of the lineup.
While the hitting will be as good and possibly better than last season, it appears Ole Miss pitching won't be as good as last season. They lost their top two SEC starters, Doug Nikhazy and Gunnar Hoglund, and their closer Taylor Broadway from last season. They do return junior RHPs Derek Diamond and Drew McDaniel, both of who started in SEC games last season. It appears they, along with sophom*ore RHP Jack Dougherty and junior RHP Jack Washburn, an Oregon State transfer, will likely compete for the starting roles in SEC and mid-week games.
The relief pitching has some pitchers returning from last season, but among that group, it looks like only senior RHP Brandon Johnson will have a significant relief role in 2022. It appears the other primary relievers/spot starters could all be newcomers, including senior LHP John Gaddis (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi transfer), junior RHP Dylan DeLucia (Northwest Florida State transfer) and true freshmen LHP Hunter Elliott, RHP Riley Maddox and RHP Blake McGehee. Three other returnees from last season to keep an eye on for depth purposes are junior RHP Wes Burton, junior LHP Jackson Kimbrell and sophom*ore RHP Josh Mallitz. All three have SEC experience, but struggled in their appearances.
PREVIOUS SEC BASEBALL TEAM 2022 SEASON EARLY LOOK ARTICLES: MISSISSIPPI STATE | VANDERBILT | OLE MISS | FLORIDA | LSU | TENNESSEE | ARKANSAS | SOUTH CAROLINA | | GEORGIA | AUBURN | KENTUCKY | ALABAMA | MISSOURI
