Mangum Earns Major League Call Up
March 29, 2025 | Baseball
STARKVILLE – The Mayor is headed to the Major Leagues.
Jake Mangum was called up by the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday becoming the 71st Mississippi State to reach the Big Leagues and will join the team for the third game of opening weekend series against the Colorado Rockies in Tampa.
Mangum could make his MLB debut as early as Saturday at 3:10 p.m.
The switch-hitting outfielder is one of the most beloved Bulldogs in program history during his time in Starkville from 2016-19. Mangum finished his career with an SEC-record 383 hits, which is the fourth-most in NCAA history. He hit .357 during his days as a Diamond Dawg with 73 doubles, 10 triples, five homers, 126 RBIs and 56 steals.
Mangum also pitched in six games (five starts) and posted a 2-1 record on the mound. He was a three-time first team All-SEC selection and was the first player in program history to be named SEC Freshman of the Year after leading the conference with a .408 batting average in 2016. The Pearl native was also a two-time All-American, two-time Ferriss Trophy and 2018 Rawlings Gold Glove winner.
Mangum helped State win the SEC regular season championship in 2016, reached an NCAA Super Regional in all four years and made two trips to the College World Series in his final two seasons. He owned hits in 202 of 243 college games started (83.1 %) and posted 112 multi-hit games. He also had a .348 batting average and 205 hits in 588 at-bats against SEC competition.
In addition to his hits record, Mangum also holds school benchmarks for games played (262), at bats (1,074), doubles and hit-by-pitches (45). He also ranks second with 229 runs scored, third with 491 total bases, fourth in steals and fifth in triples.
Through five seasons in the minor leagues, Mangum hit .296 with 496 hits in 432 career games with 101 doubles, 21 triples, 24 homers, 208 RBIs and 81 stolen bases as a member of the Mets, Marlins and Rays organizations. Last year at Triple-A Durham, he led the International League with a .317 batting average.
Mangum batted .429 with three doubles, two homers and nine RBIs in 15 spring training games with Tampa this year.
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on X, Facebook and Instagram.