Senior Feature: Peyton Plumlee

by: Greg Campbell, Assistant Director/Communications

Peyton Plumlee arrived on the Starkville campus following a year at Northwest Mississippi Community College and immediately saw time on the mound for what he called a "shorthanded pitching staff."

His sophomore season featured 26 appearances and eight starts. He worked 74 innings, posted a 6-1 record with one save and struck out 54 batters.

Then, Plumlee was forced to sit out the 2018 season.

"Last year was tough," said Plumlee. "Obviously, whenever you do something for so many odd years, and all of a sudden you are away from it for a whole year, it puts a lot of things in perspective."

The senior right-hander knew that he could have gone one of two ways: he could have taken the "woe as me" approach or he could use his new perspective to pursue a second chance. Though it wasn't a guarantee, Plumlee knew deep down he was going to be ready if a second chance was afforded.

After watching the Bulldogs 2018 run to Omaha on television and via on-line broadcasts, Plumlee packed up and headed to Amsterdam, New York to play for the Amsterdam Mohawks of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.

While Plumlee was there, he received a call from newly hired Mississippi State head coach Chris Lemonis.

"I remember I was eating lunch with my grandparents [when Lemonis called]," said Plumlee, "and [when he told me I could come back to the team] my whole body was just overcome with emotion."

"I am super thankful for the opportunity and to turn the page on a long, crazy year. Just hearing the words [from Lemonis] and knowing that I would have a chance [to play at Mississippi State again] was a big deal for me."

After going 4-0 with a 2.32 ERA in six starts for Amsterdam, Plumlee returned to campus to prepare for his senior season.

But, when did it set in that he was back?

"I would say the first team practice [of the fall]," said Plumlee. "Walking into the locker room and seeing all of the guys again, that was the first time it really set in."

He made his 2018 debut on Opening Day at Dudy Noble Field, noting that he was probably twice as nervous entering in relief against Youngstown State this season than he was in his first career appearance – a start – versus Western Illinois in 2017.

"[Opening night] was almost like the first time I pitched at Mississippi State, again," said Plumlee. "I remember my very first outing and how nervous I was. My first outing this year was double the intensity. It was a surreal moment. I remember standing out there, taking a deep breath and taking everything in. Then, I just buried my head and got ready to pitch."

With the opening weekend of the season in the books, Plumlee turned his attention to his first start of the year versus UAB. After throwing 4 2/3 innings against the Blazers, Plumlee and the Bulldogs hosted in-state foe Southern Miss, and Plumlee had another surreal moment: the experience of a walk-off win.

"To see him after we beat [Southern Miss] on Sunday, he was so excited," said senior Jake Mangum. "He told me, 'I've been waiting a year for this feeling.'"

While the fans in the stands were erupting as Jordan Westburg rounded third and headed home on Sunday versus the Golden Eagles, Plumlee was in the dugout in what was almost disbelief.

"I watched all of their walk-off wins last year from my house," said Plumlee. "When TA [Tanner Allen] hit that ball down the line and I saw Westy [Jordan Westburg] coming around third, I just kept saying 'it's about to happen, it's about to happen.' When he crossed the plate, honestly, I lost my mind. I felt like a kid in a candy store. I waited a whole year for that and it was worth it."

Following the walk-off win for State, it was Plumlee's turn to take the mound again in a midweek start versus Southeastern Louisiana, a team that had handed MSU an 11-5 loss the season before.

All Plumlee did was turn in six shutout innings with a career-high nine strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. He showed a mentality he had not displayed during his sophomore season, a more mature and confident approach to his craft.

"There is a maturity piece to pitching and before this year the last time I pitched I was a sophomore," said Plumlee, "so the difference in my approach is huge. I was kind of passive my sophomore year, not confident in my pitches, so [the biggest change] has been having confidence in everything I am doing. You have to treat every batter the same, every pitch the same. You have to go out there and give it everything you have each day."

And his teammates have seen the same approach.

"Peyton is a guy who would do anything to help [the program]," said Mangum. "He always has your back and we will always have his. You can tell he worked really hard last year and I'm glad he is on our team."

Plumlee waited over 400 days to return to the MSU program and he will continue to pursue his second chance with confidence.

"Since [coach Lemonis called me], I haven't taken a day for granted."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Senior Feature: Peyton Plumlee

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