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STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball is taking a similar approach to the MSU football team when it comes to adding newly-eligible players from the high school class of 2022.
With so much uncertainty about the rules, the Bulldogs are holding off on adding those graduated seniors. But they are also still monitoring the developing situation.
"Our roster is pretty much set," coach Brian O'Connor said in an interview with the Clarion Ledger Aug. 10. "I get updates on what's going on with that, but I don't spend too much headspace on it because I believe that we've got the guys in place to have a great ball club. There's limitations to that. Sometimes more is not necessarily better.
"Obviously we keep doors open and things like that, but to all of a sudden rush out and start committing players from other schools that have a year of eligibility left or whatever I think is not fruitful right now. We'll see what comes out of it, but I believe in the work that we put into our roster and believe it's the right guys for us to compete at the highest level."
The newly eligible players stem from a July 31 preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Colorado. It granted some athletes in the 2022 high school class one more year of eligibility after they weren't included for a fifth year in the NCAA's new age-based model. It applies to athletes who haven't redshirted or signed professional contracts.
The NCAA is appealing.
MORE: Which Mississippi State athletes could get extra year of eligibility after court ruling
Gatlin Sanders is the only Mississippi State baseball senior from 2026 who would be getting an extra year. Sanders was MSU's starting second baseman in 2025 but was mainly a pinch-runner last season and batted 0-for-13. He has not responded to a request for comment about whether he's pursuing playing an extra year.
Any other players would need to be transfers, but the transfer portal is closed.
There also is the question of roster space, which for baseball is capped at 34. Teams can exceed that limit through designated student athletes, but that is not a public list.
"It's never full," O'Connor said. "I mean, I could cut a player tomorrow if I wanted to. Someone could say their roster is full, but that could change. A kid could decide tomorrow not to come to school and show up. I just believe in that you never say that your roster's necessarily set because things can change. I've seen in my career some crazy things happen."
Mississippi State's fall semester begins Aug. 19, and fall baseball practices begin in September.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Would Mississippi State baseball add a newly eligible player? Brian O'Connor weighs in
Continue reading...
With so much uncertainty about the rules, the Bulldogs are holding off on adding those graduated seniors. But they are also still monitoring the developing situation.
"Our roster is pretty much set," coach Brian O'Connor said in an interview with the Clarion Ledger Aug. 10. "I get updates on what's going on with that, but I don't spend too much headspace on it because I believe that we've got the guys in place to have a great ball club. There's limitations to that. Sometimes more is not necessarily better.
"Obviously we keep doors open and things like that, but to all of a sudden rush out and start committing players from other schools that have a year of eligibility left or whatever I think is not fruitful right now. We'll see what comes out of it, but I believe in the work that we put into our roster and believe it's the right guys for us to compete at the highest level."
The newly eligible players stem from a July 31 preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Colorado. It granted some athletes in the 2022 high school class one more year of eligibility after they weren't included for a fifth year in the NCAA's new age-based model. It applies to athletes who haven't redshirted or signed professional contracts.
The NCAA is appealing.
MORE: Which Mississippi State athletes could get extra year of eligibility after court ruling
Gatlin Sanders is the only Mississippi State baseball senior from 2026 who would be getting an extra year. Sanders was MSU's starting second baseman in 2025 but was mainly a pinch-runner last season and batted 0-for-13. He has not responded to a request for comment about whether he's pursuing playing an extra year.
Any other players would need to be transfers, but the transfer portal is closed.
There also is the question of roster space, which for baseball is capped at 34. Teams can exceed that limit through designated student athletes, but that is not a public list.
"It's never full," O'Connor said. "I mean, I could cut a player tomorrow if I wanted to. Someone could say their roster is full, but that could change. A kid could decide tomorrow not to come to school and show up. I just believe in that you never say that your roster's necessarily set because things can change. I've seen in my career some crazy things happen."
Mississippi State's fall semester begins Aug. 19, and fall baseball practices begin in September.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Would Mississippi State baseball add a newly eligible player? Brian O'Connor weighs in
Continue reading...
