No. 39 Craig Tatum
2004
Bulldogs' returning starting catcher as a sophomore * Game-wisereceiver with a strong, accurate arm who has developed a solid rapportwiththe Bulldog pitchers * Enjoyed a productive fall practice, improving hisoverall receiving skills while assuming an increased leadership role ontheteam * Hits for average with occasional power * Former high schoolteammateof MSU senior pitcher Jeff Lacher.
2003
MSU's starting catcher in 43 of 63 games as a freshman * Hit .302anddrove in 33 runs * Lashed eight doubles and six home runs with a .438slugging percentage * Played in 55 of MSU's 63 games * Also drew sixstartsas the designated hitter * Among six freshman position players to seeplaying time as a starter * Hit .290 with three home runs in 27 games(24starts) against SEC competition and .327 at Dudy Noble Field * Made hiscollegiate debut against Birmingham-Southern (Feb. 22) * Delivered thefirstof his 58 hits with a single against Connecticut (Feb. 23) * Had 16multi-hit games * Had his first two-hit outing and belted his first homerunat UAB (Mar. 4) * Turned in a trio of three-hit plate performances,including back-to-back games at New Orleans (Mar. 11) and in MSU's SECseason-opener against Vanderbilt (Mar. 14) * Also went 3-for-4 andmatched aseason-high with three RBI in the NCAA Starkville Regional championshipgameagainst North Carolina (June 1) * Also drove in three runs againstMississippi Valley State (Apr. 15) near the end of a season-best 12-gamehitting streak and with a three-run home run against Winthrop (May 13) *Hadhits in 11 of his last 13 games, including a four-game 7-for-17 showingthein the season-ending NCAA Starkville Regional * Fielded his position ata.983 rate * Played error-free baseball in his first 21 games behind thedish(160 chances) * Posted the league's third-best regular-season fieldingpercentage among the SEC's catcher (.989) * Picked off five baserunnersandthrew out nine others on base-stealing attempts * One of six Bulldogsnamedto the NCAA Starkville Regional All-Tournament Team
2002
Sat out the 2002 campaign as a freshman redshirt.
HIGH SCHOOL
Four-year regular as a catcher and pitcher at Hattiesburg High School for coach Larry Knight * Tabbed as the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year after hitting a team-best .435 with 51 hits and 54 RBI * Helped lead the Tigers to a 30-9 finish in 2001 * Also notched a 7-3 pitching record with a save and a 3.94 earned run average * Struck out 80 in 57 innings * Honored as the team's MVP and best defensive player * Selected to play in the 2001 Mississippi High School All-Star Game * All-state selection and member of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger's "Dandy Dozen" * Won the team batting title as a junior with a .411 batting average * Also took the hill and compiled a 6-1 pitching record with two saves and a 2.85 as a junior * Participated in the 2000 East Coast Professional Baseball Showcase in Wilmington, N.C.
Personal
Born Craig Browning Tatum on March 18, 1983 in Hattiesburg, Miss. * Son of Robert and Kimberly Tatum of Hattiesburg, Miss. * Majoring in Banking and Finance.
YEAR AVG GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB HB SO SF S SB-SA PO A E FLD2003 .302 55-49 192 35 58 8 0 6 33 16 1 46 2 2 0-0 322 28 6 .9832004 .325 59-59 237 42 77 16 0 13 60 10 3 48 3 3 0-1 387 50 5 .989 TOTAL .315 114-108 429 77 135 24 0 19 93 26 4 94 5 5 0-1 709 78 11 .986