The Hunt For Success
February 07, 2023 | Baseball
Pitcher KC Hunt returns for another season ready to be a big piece for the Diamond Dawgs.
STARKVILLE – KC Hunt's three seasons with Mississippi State have been a rollercoaster ride.
The cancellation of spring sports due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 ended the right-handed pitcher's freshman year before it truly started. He put together a solid season in 2021 that helped the Diamond Dawgs clinch their first-ever National Championship. Then, after earning a starting role in the team's opening series against Long Beach State last year, Hunt was sidelined with an injury for a little more than five weeks before eventually making his return in relief.
Hunt could have chosen to end his career in the Maroon and White right there. His talent was undeniable and impressive enough for the pros to come calling. Hunt was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 12th round of the 2022 MLB Draft last July and given an opportunity that only a few athletes have.
"Getting drafted was awesome," Hunt said. "I was actually up in my high school just running around, and I got a group phone call that I was getting drafted. So, that was pretty cool."
The days passed, and the deadline to sign his contract quickly approached. Hunt saw former teammates, high school standouts and fierce opponents commit to the next level, but he held back from putting his name on the dotted line. The August deadline passed without a signature, confirming Hunt's decision to return to Starkville as a seasoned veteran poised to lead the Bulldogs.
"It was surreal, but yeah, I'm ready to get back here and try to bring us back up, back to success," Hunt said.
Hunt has the tools and experience to do just that. The flame-thrower made 15 appearances in 2022, all but one of which came in relief. He held opponents to a career-low .265 batting average and also had one of the better strikeout-to-walk ratios on the team, totaling 32 Ks with just 13 batters walked.
Aside from his skills on the mound, Hunt's leadership should be a valuable asset to a young locker room. The Bulldogs have just 14 returning players from the 2022 squad, with 28 hungry newcomers entering their first season at Dudy Noble Field and looking for guidance along the way. Luckily, they've been welcomed with open arms by Hunt and others.
"The older guys have, you know, loved them," Hunt said. "I think it's a really, really good team personality-wise and everything."
As for Hunt, his personal goals for the season are quite simple: fill whatever role head coach Chris Lemonis asks of him, remain healthy, and keep moving forward with his team behind him.
"You just take one step at a time, one pitch at a time," Hunt said. "You're not overthinking anything. You have trust in what you have. You have trust in all your coaches, and you have trust in your teammates that they're going to make a play behind you."
