Diamond Dawgs Preseason Central

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Diamond Dawgs Preseason Central

January 06, 2021 | Baseball

Track all of the honors, awards and rankings for Mississippi State baseball as the 2021 season approaches

By: Greg Campbell, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE - As the the spring semester hits its stride and individual workouts begin at Dudy Noble Field, the national pundits of college baseball have started to roll out the preseason rankings and accolades in front of the anticipated return of college baseball. The 2021 Preseason Central page will be a one-stop shop for coverage of the Diamond Dawgs heading into the program's 131st season.

Virtual Media Days

On Tuesday, February 2, head coach Chris Lemonis and assistant coach Jake Gautreau talked to the media inside of Dudy Noble Field for the program's Virtual Media Days. Full video of each coaches comments are below, with assistant coaches Scott Foxhall and Kyle Cheesebrough slated to meet with the media on Wednesday, February 3.

Chris Lemonis/Scott Foxhall Press Conference Transcripts

Chris Lemonis Press Conference Video
Jake Gautreau Press Conference Video
Scott Foxhall Press Conference Video
Kyle Cheesebrough Press Conference Video

National Rankings

Currently, Mississippi State has received a top 15 national ranking from each of the preseason polls, as Collegiate Baseball Newspaper tabbed the Maroon and White as the No. 9 team entering the 2021 season on Dec. 21. Perfect Game followed with the first rankings of the new year and pegged the Diamond Dawgs and the No. 12 team in the land, while D1Baseball has MSU at No. 7.

Complete preseason rankings include: (click on the publication for full rankings)
Baseball America - No. 8
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper – No. 9
D1Baseball – No. 7
National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association - No. 7
Perfect Game – No. 12
USA Today - No. 7

Individual Honors

Tanner Allen, OF

A mainstay in the lineup for the past three seasons, Allen was a Freshman All-American in 2018 and earned All-America honors in 2019 at first base, before moving to the outfield in 2020. Allen looks to become one of the most productive hitters in MSU history, entering the season with 181 hits and over 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored in his career.

Preseason All-SEC (first team)

Will Bednar, RHP

A Freshman All-American following the 2020 season, Bednar appeared in four games with one start in his first collegiate season. The right-hander struck out five-or-more batters in three of four outings and finished No. 4 among SEC freshmen pitchers in strikeouts (23). He tied for second on the team in saves (1) and strikeouts.

Baseball America Breakout Candidate (No. 13)
Baseball America Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 59)
MLB Pipeline Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 41)
D1Baseball Top 100 Collegiate MLB Draft Prospects (No. 20)

Eric Cerantola, RHP

A starter and reliever during his time on campus, Cerantola served as the Dawgs Sunday starter during the 2020 campaign. A 30th round of the 2018 MLB First Year Player Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, the right-hander ranked second on the team among qualifying starting pitchers in ERA (3.18) in 2020. In his career, he has appeared in 15 games with eight starts and owns a 4-1 record with 43 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings of work.

Baseball America Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 34)
MLB Pipeline Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 50)
D1Baseball Top 100 Collegiate MLB Draft Prospects (No. 28)

Scotty Dubrule, IF

After spending four seasons at Jacksonville and setting the programs career hits record (249), Dubrule brings his talents to the SEC and looks to continue to add to an impressive collegiate career. Entering the 2021 season, the left-handed hitter has started 194 of 197 career games. A two-time All-Atlantic Sun Conference selection currently sits among the active career leaders in his (2nd; 249), at-bats (2nd; 770), games played (3rd; 197) and runs scored (15th; 138).

Baseball America Top 25 New Addition (No. 23)

Josh Hatcher, IF

In 2020, Hatcher ended the year with a .311 batting average and started all 16 games at first base. The left-handed hitter had scored 10 runs and drive in nine RBIs. Hatcher was nearly halfway to career highs in multiple categories just a quarter into the year. One of just a handful of Diamond Dawgs to make back-to-back appearances at the College World Series, Hatcher will look to help MSU make a third run at Omaha.

Preseason All-SEC (second team)

Kamren James, IF

Following in the footsteps of his father, Greg (football), and brother, Keegan (baseball), James is the third member of his family to wear the maroon and white and will make the move from third base to shortstop for the 2021 season. He appeared in 15 games with 14 starts in 2020 and logged at least one hit in 12 of 15 games played. James was one of seven SEC freshmen to end the season with a .300 batting average and ranked inside the top 10 among SEC freshmen in six offensive categories.

D1Baseball Top 100 Collegiate MLB Draft Prospects (No. 49)

Rowdey Jordan, OF

A staple in the MSU order over the past three seasons, Jordan will look to boost his already impressive offensive numbers. A two-time NCAA Regional All-Tournament selection – including an MVP nod at the 2019 Starkville Regional - the switch hitter owns a career .304 batting average in 140 career games played. He has amassed 111 runs scored to go along with 92 RBIs, and of his 156 career hits, 46 have went for extra bases.

Preseason All-SEC (second team)

Christian MacLeod, LHP

The 2020 Co-National Freshman of the Year per Collegiate Baseball Magazine, MacLeod won each of his first three collegiate starts before the season ended in 2020. The first Mississippi State freshman to earn an All-America nod since Jake Mangum in 2016, he was the only Power 5 freshman to register four-or-more victories on the season and tied for the most strikeouts (35) among Power 5 freshmen in 2020. MacLeod also ranked among the top 50 nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (25th; 3.86), WHIP (32nd; 0.71) and ERA (41st; 0.86).

Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-America (second team)
D1Baseball Preseason All-America (third team)
Perfect Game Preseason All-America (third team)
Baseball America Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 23)
MLB Pipeline Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 40)
D1Baseball Top 100 Collegiate MLB Draft Prospects (No. 26)