Meet Your Diamond Dawgs: Jake Mangum
September 29, 2015 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – During the fall, HailState.com will interview select Mississippi State newcomers as an introduction to the MSU fanbase. True freshman Jake Mangum is a switch-hitting outfielder who also pitches as a left-hander. Along with current MSU teammate Noah Hughes, Mangum led Jackson Preparatory School to its third straight state championship this past spring, earning All-America honors from Louisville Slugger.
Fans can watch Mangum play Wednesday at 4:45 p.m. at Dudy Noble Field as MSU plays its ninth open scrimmage of the fall. Admission is free. For more information on Mangum's fall, follow the program on Twitter, like the team on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateBB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
JAKE MANGUM Q&A
Q: What was your reason for coming to Mississippi State?
A: Starkville is home to me. I always knew this is where I wanted to be. I know how important baseball is here and I know how hungry everyone is for Omaha and winning the national championship. It is our goal to bring this school its first national title. The group of guys here is just amazing. The veterans are awesome and they have all done a lot for us newcomers already, and it's only been two months. Another reason I committed here was because the coaches are so good with us. You walk around campus and it's a home feeling. Everyone that lives in Starkville just makes you feel like you're home. Even the guys that live nine hours away all call it home.
Q: How would you describe the team chemistry so far?
A: The team chemistry is phenomenal. We haven't had any problems at all. When you walk in the locker room, you cannot tell who is a first-year player and who is a senior because we are all the same team no matter what year you are. We don't have cliques or groups. All of the upperclassmen are always there for you and they've been there for us since we've stepped foot on campus. They are always looking for ways to make us better. If we have questions, every single one of them is there to answer them. We are one united group with one goal.
Q: What kind of hitter would you say you are?
A: Honestly, just thinking back the past few years, I have always modeled my game around former Bulldogs Adam Frazier and C.T. Bradford. I am trying to do exactly what they did whenever I hit, play defense and run. Everything they did fits how I want to perform, even with C.T. as a pitcher. I actually hit with C.T. a couple of times back in the winter when I was a senior in high school. He gave me a lot of advice. I called him a good bit to see what he thinks I need to be working on and stuff like that.
Q: What are your main pitches on the mound?
A: I throw a fastball, slider and a change-up.
Q: What is the velocity on your fastball?
A: It changes. I do not worry about velocity too much, but I throw in the upper 80s where it floats around 90 mph.
Q: How's strength and conditioning been going so far?
A: The strength and conditioning aspect is going well. Most of our incoming class arrived this summer for classes. Coach Brian Neal has done a great job with our conditioning and workouts. He has pushed us every single day and I can already tell it has helped me out a lot. I have been gaining some weight and I have gotten faster already. I've been enjoying it.
Q: What do you think your role will be this spring?
A: I am not worried about this spring. I am worried about the next practice. I am worried about today. All of the freshmen are still trying to figure their roles. As of now, I am going to do all that I can in the outfield. Wherever I can help the team out, that is where I will go. If I can give them some innings on the mound, I'll continue to do that, but I want do whatever the coaches think will help us win.
Q: How are your classes going so far?
A: Classes are going well so far. I am getting adjusted fairly well. The experience is totally different from high school, but I am still enjoying it.
Q: What is your major?
A: I am majoring in business finance. Right now I'm just getting all my core classes out of the way. I took six hours in the summer, and I'm taking 16 this semester. Next semester, I'll take my first accounting class.
Q: What are your thoughts on the new Dudy Noble Field?
A: It really speaks for itself. It is unbelievable. It's kind of hard to imagine a stadium that big and beautiful right here on a college campus. It will be a Major League Baseball-type stadium.
