Three Day-Two Dawgs

STARKVILLE – For the second straight season, the Mississippi State baseball program had multiple student-athletes drafted in the first five rounds of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. It is the second straight season that MSU had multiple student-athletes picked in the first five rounds.

Tanner Allen was the No. 118 overall pick by the Miami Marlins in the fourth round, before pitchers Eric Cerantola (No. 139) and Christian MacLeod (No. 159) went to Kansas City and Minneapolis, respectively. On Day one of the 2021 MLB Draft, second-year freshman Will Bednar became the 18th Diamond Dawg selected in the first round of the MLB Draft when the San Francisco Giants picked him with the No. 14 overall pick.

In the MLB Draft, Mississippi State has heard 178 student-athletes' names called at the event for a total of 219 draft picks overall. In the June Regular Draft, State has seen 68 taken in the first 10 rounds with 36 selected in the first five rounds, including the 17 first rounders – which ranks No. 8 all-time in NCAA history.

Under head coach Chris Lemonis, Mississippi State has seen 18 student-athletes drafted in the MLB Draft, including four going in the first round. Of the 18 total picks, an MSU record-tying 11 were selected in the 2019 draft, while three went in the abbreviated, five-round draft in 2020 – each in the first 52 picks. Lemonis also has nine draft picks in the first five rounds of the draft during his MSU tenure.

Tanner Allen | OF | Theodore, Alabama

The American Baseball Coaches Association National Hitter of the Year, Allen was a unanimous first-team All-American and the SEC Player of the Year after pacing the conference in batting average (.383), hits (100) and RBIs (66) overall and in the same categories in conference-only games (.411/51/34). He reached base safely in 64 of 67 games, with at least one hit in 57 games during the season.

The only Power 5 hitter to produce at least 100 hits, 60 runs scored and 60 RBIs during the 2021 season, Allen was one of four Division I hitters to produce 100 hits in the season and just the seventh Diamond Dawg all-time to reach the mark. He racked up 32 multi-hit games and 30 extra base hits to just 35 strikeouts during the season.

In his career, Allen is one of two Diamond Dawgs in program history to record at least 50 doubles, 20 home runs and 10 triples. He is also one of nine MSU hitters in school history to produce 200 hits, 150 runs scored and 150 RBIs in a career. He ranks among the top 10 in MSU history in triples (No. 3; 12), doubles (No. 4; 62), hits (No. 7; 281), total bases (No. 8; 436) and RBIs (No. 9; 182).

Eric Cerantola | RHP | Oakville, Ontario

In three seasons on campus, Cerantola appeared in 25 game with 12 starts – making four starts in each of his three campaigns – with a 4.41 ERA in 49 innings of work. He piled up 67 strikeouts in his 49 innings of work (1.39 K/IP) and limited hitters to a .210 batting average.

The right-hander also has international experience, as he was a member of the Canadian National Team U18 squad that finished No. 4 at the World Championships in 2017. He was also a part of the roster for the 2019 PanAm Game in Lima, Peru.

In his career, Cerantola has been drafted three times in two different sports. Also a 30th round in the 2018 MLB First Year Player Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, the Oakville, Ontario, native was first drafted in the eighth round of the 2016 Ontario Hockey League Draft by the Owen Sound Attack.

Christian MacLeod | LHP | Huntsville, Alabama

Spent three seasons on campus, with a redshirt season in 2019 and the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, before holding down the No. 1 starter spot during the 2021 season. All 23 appearances in his career were starts on the mound, as he compiled 103 2/3 innings of work and struck out 148 batters. He allowed just 88 hits and walked only 39 batters for a 1.22 WHIP for his career.

A Freshman All-American after the 2021 season, MacLeod started his career with a 4-0 record and a 0.86 ERA over his first four career starts. He struck out 35 that season, which was a precursor for his 113-strikeout season in 2021. He teamed with Will Bednar and Landon Sims as the only trio in Mississippi State history to all eclipse the 100-strikeout mark in a single season.

Of MacLeod's 19 starts in 2021, Mississippi State won 13 of those on his way to a 6-6 record in 82 2/3 innings of work. He limited opponents to a .248 batting average and walked just 33 hitters on the year. He posted eight games with at least seven strikeouts, which included four double-digit strikeout games. His 12 punchout against VCU in the NCAA Starkville Regional tied his career high.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Tanner Allen

Will Bednar

Eric Cerantola

Christian MacLeod

Landon Sims

Related Videos