Pico De Guy-o
February 24, 2025 | Baseball, Joel Coleman
Pico Kohn standing out early at the top of the Diamond Dawg rotation.
STARKVILLE – On a cold Friday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field, Pico Kohn brought the heat.
It was the seventh inning of Mississippi State's series opener against Missouri State this past weekend. Kohn was looking to finish off his second start of the year with a flourish. The lefty reared back and fired 90-plus miles-per-hour high cheese right past the swinging bat of the Bears' Zack Stewart, then showed fiery emotion on a frigid day.
It was a huge moment in what was, at the time, a one-run game.
"I try not get too high or too low," Kohn said of his intense reaction. "[But] I had to, you know."
It was a rare public display of passion for Kohn. He isn't typically flashy. He keeps a poker face. He isn't much for chatting about his work afterwards either as he fulfills his postgame media obligations willingly, while at the same time preferring to just go on about his own business if possible. To be a bit cliché, Kohn is simply a man who wants to let his actions do his talking.
Well, through two weekends, his performances are being heard loud and clear.
"I think it's just confidence and trusting the work that I've put in," Kohn said.
Kohn is an early standout amongst his fellow Southeastern Conference pitchers. As he gets set to toe the rubber again this weekend in Houston, Texas, at the Astros Foundation College Classic, Kohn is among the SEC leaders in pretty much every single category of importance.
He's second in strikeouts with 22 and averaging nearly two punchouts per inning. More than 1/3 of those Ks have come with the batter frozen at the dish as eight of Kohn's strikeouts have come with hitters looking. That, too, stands at second in the league.
Kohn's miniscule 0.79 earned run average is good for eighth in the conference. The southpaw is tied for third in innings pitched and is 15th in batting average against as opponents have hit just .135 against him.
He's tied for first with the fewest walks allowed. How many, you ask? Zero. Kohn hasn't issued a single free pass all year.
"He's just pounding the zone," MSU head coach Chris Lemonis said of Kohn.
Kohn credits much of his early success to his pitching coach, saying he's had the best brought out of himself by Justin Parker.
"I feel like Parker has kind of changed my career," Kohn said. "He has been great, and I honestly can't put it into words."
Words might not work, but numbers might show that Parker's positive impact should come as no surprise. Remember what he did last season.
In Parker's debut campaign at MSU, he lowered the team's ERA by 2.84. He decreased the amount of team walks by 104 and increased the number of strikeouts by 101.
Eight of Parker's pitchers were taken in the 2024 MLB Draft, including first-rounder Jurrangelo Cijntje. Five of the State hurlers picked last summer went in the ninth round or higher.
Long story short: In Parker's short time in Maroon and White, he's seemingly proven himself to be a mound magician, bringing out the best in every single Bulldog.
Now, it appears Kohn has elevated his game as well. Further removed from an arm injury that cost him all of 2023 and the early portion of 2024, Kohn is blossoming with health restored and talent sharpened through his own work and the tutelage of Parker.
And the most exciting thing is the best is almost assuredly to come.
"[Kohn] came back [to MSU this year] for a reason," Lemonis said. "He really wanted to get better. I think he's the heaviest he's been in his career. I think he's mechanically the strongest he's been in his career. So, I'm excited for him. I think he has an exciting season ahead of him."
