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Ole Miss baseball can turn its attention to making it back to the College World Series now that the 2026 season is over.
Troy beat the Rebels 12-8 on June 14 in a loser’s bracket game at the College World Series. The loss put the Rebels 0-2 in the CWS and ended the Ole Miss season.
The Rebels went 41-23 and made it back to Omaha for the first time since 2022.
The Ole Miss baseball 2027 roster is likely to look different under coach Mike Bianco, who will be going into his 27th season. Ole Miss already has begun adding players in the transfer portal.
Here's what Ole Miss needs to navigate to return to the CWS in 2027. The portal closes June 30.
Offseason roster management starts with starting pitchers Hunter Elliott, Taylor Rabe and Cade Townsend.
All three are eligible to return. Elliott can return for a sixth season because of medical redshirt. Townsend and Rabe are both draft-eligible sophomores.
All three pitchers leave Ole Miss for the MLB draft. Townsend is ranked as the No. 29 prospect in MLB.com's 2026 rankings, and Rabe is No. 90.
Elliott has turned down the MLB draft before, but this is his last season to sign with a team while possessing the leverage of being able to return to college.
Ole Miss' two main power sources in 2026 − Tristan Bissetta (23 home runs) and Judd Utermark − are out of eligibility.
Those players also led Ole Miss in strikeouts. The Rebels could tweak their hitting approach and search for players with higher batting averages and less strikeouts. Losing 45 home runs from the middle of the lineup is something that should be addressed in some capacity.
With Utermark and first baseman Will Furniss graduating, Ole Miss has a need for corner infielders and in the outfield.
Louisiana Tech transfer first baseman Trey Hawsey is a good start. He was a starter for the Bulldogs in 2026 who batted .335 with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs as a sophomore.
The MLB draft July 11-12 will impact the roster.
Ole Miss has three players with eligibility remaining who are in MLB.com's top 200 draft prospects: Townsend (No. 27), Rabe (No. 90) and pitcher Wil Libbert (No. 179).
Ole Miss also has two players in the 2026 recruiting class who are in MLB.com's top 200 draft prospects: third baseman Cole Prosek (No. 33) and shortstop Taj Marchand (No. 46).
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss baseball roster 2027: Portal needs, MLB draft prospects
Continue reading...
Troy beat the Rebels 12-8 on June 14 in a loser’s bracket game at the College World Series. The loss put the Rebels 0-2 in the CWS and ended the Ole Miss season.
The Rebels went 41-23 and made it back to Omaha for the first time since 2022.
The Ole Miss baseball 2027 roster is likely to look different under coach Mike Bianco, who will be going into his 27th season. Ole Miss already has begun adding players in the transfer portal.
Here's what Ole Miss needs to navigate to return to the CWS in 2027. The portal closes June 30.
Ole Miss baseball's top portal need is likely starting pitching
Offseason roster management starts with starting pitchers Hunter Elliott, Taylor Rabe and Cade Townsend.
All three are eligible to return. Elliott can return for a sixth season because of medical redshirt. Townsend and Rabe are both draft-eligible sophomores.
All three pitchers leave Ole Miss for the MLB draft. Townsend is ranked as the No. 29 prospect in MLB.com's 2026 rankings, and Rabe is No. 90.
Elliott has turned down the MLB draft before, but this is his last season to sign with a team while possessing the leverage of being able to return to college.
Ole Miss must replace Judd Utermark, Tristan Bissetta power
Ole Miss' two main power sources in 2026 − Tristan Bissetta (23 home runs) and Judd Utermark − are out of eligibility.
Those players also led Ole Miss in strikeouts. The Rebels could tweak their hitting approach and search for players with higher batting averages and less strikeouts. Losing 45 home runs from the middle of the lineup is something that should be addressed in some capacity.
With Utermark and first baseman Will Furniss graduating, Ole Miss has a need for corner infielders and in the outfield.
Louisiana Tech transfer first baseman Trey Hawsey is a good start. He was a starter for the Bulldogs in 2026 who batted .335 with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs as a sophomore.
Ole Miss' MLB draft risks
The MLB draft July 11-12 will impact the roster.
Ole Miss has three players with eligibility remaining who are in MLB.com's top 200 draft prospects: Townsend (No. 27), Rabe (No. 90) and pitcher Wil Libbert (No. 179).
Ole Miss also has two players in the 2026 recruiting class who are in MLB.com's top 200 draft prospects: third baseman Cole Prosek (No. 33) and shortstop Taj Marchand (No. 46).
Ole Miss baseball players out of eligibility
- 3B Judd Utermark
- 1B Will Furniss
- OF Tristan Bissetta
- C Collin Reuter
- OF Daniel Pacella
- P Marko Sipila
- P Landon Waters
Top Ole Miss baseball players eligible to return
- IF/OF Brayden Randle
- SS Owen Paino
- OF Hayden Federico
- 2B Dom Decker
- C Austin Fawley
- P Hunter Elliott
- P Cade Townsend
- P Taylor Rabe
- P Walker Hooks
- P Owen Kelly
- P Hudson Calhoun
- P JP Robertson
- P Wil Libbert
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss baseball roster 2027: Portal needs, MLB draft prospects
Continue reading...
