Ole Miss Rebels
Overall Rank: #32
Conference Rank: #9 SEC
This could be a bit of a rebuilding year for Mississippi. The Rebels have hosted Regionals over the last two years, but now there are very few upperclassmen on the roster. While it is a concern that this group is so young, it does not mean that they are inexperienced. Many of the returning players played a role on the team last season. Ole Miss may be a year or two away from big things, but this will be a season in which they begin to set the table for 2021 and beyond.
2019: 41-27, 16-14
2019 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Mike Bianco
Key Departed Players:
Grae Kessinger, IF, .330 BA, 7 HR, 50 RBI, 16 SB
Ryan Olenek, IF/OF, .329 BA, 1 HR, 33 RBI, 10 SB
Cole Zabowski, IF, .318 BA, 12 HR, 51 RBI
Thomas Dillard, C/OF, .310 BA, 14 HR, 61 RBI
Cooper Johnson, C, .271 BA, 8 HR, 32 RBI
Will Ethridge, P, 3.39 ERA, 7-7 W/L, 93.0 IP, 73 SO
Key Returning Players:
Anthony Servideo, IF, .287 BA, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 24 SB
Tyler Keenan, IF, .285 BA, 15 HR, 66 RBI
Kevin Graham, IF, .250 BA, 10 HR, 34 RBI
Doug Nikhazy, P, 3.31 ERA, 9-3 W/L, 89.2 IP, 86 SO
Gunnar Hoglund, P, 5.29 ERA, 3-3 W/L, 68.0 IP, 53 SO
Projection:
Lack of experience will not be an issue with the starting rotation. Doug Nikhazy and Gunnar Hoglund were regular weekend starters as freshmen. Nikhazy had the more dominating campaign, going 9-3 with a 3.31 ERA. Hoglund went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA and only walked 14 batters in 68.0 innings of work. Max Cioffi and Greer Holston have plenty of bullpen experience. Tyler Keenan led the Rebels with 15 homeruns and 66 RBIs and the big junior should be in for another big year in 2020. Anthony Servideo and Kevin Graham will also play a key role in the lineup, but Coach Mike Bianco will have to rely on a very impressive group of newcomers. The Rebels welcome in one of the best recruiting classes in the country and also bring in four junior college transfers who will compete for quality playing time. Mississippi will find talented options to fill the holes on the roster, but this team should take a small step back this season regardless. That will not be enough to keep them out of the tournament though.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Baseball Tournament
