Projecting Mississippi State Baseball's Starting Lineup
Mississippi State's baseball season starts up this coming weekend on February 17th in a three-game series against VMI. With the season just days away, the Bulldogs are looking for a new start and putting the 2022 season behind them.
State has many key players returning this year along with many transfers and a strong recruiting class.
Here's the predicted starting line up for the Bulldogs' first game of a fresh start.
P KC Hunt
Mississippi State's stellar right hand pitcher was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2022 MLB draft but did not sign and will be playing for the Bulldogs once again for his Senior season. In the 2022 season KC Hunt appeared in 15 games pitching 25.1 innings allowing 27 hits and 13 walks. The Bulldogs are in luck to keep Hunt's skill for the next year.
C Luke Hancock
This season Luke Hancock will add a veteran presence behind the plate, that will only set Mississippi State up for success. Having a player who has already been on the team for four years brings a skill of knowledge for the ins and outs no one else on the team will have. For the past two years Hancock has started in every game, it will be good to use his skill for the next year in hopes to make it to the playoffs.
Kellum Clark RF
Kellum Clark is a returning junior this season and has been starting in games since his Freshmen year. In his sophomore season Clark had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Not only is he good in the field but last season his batting average was .257 with 14 home runs and a .556 slugging percentage.
Dakota Jordan LF
Coming in as a Freshman Dakota Jordan is the one that stands out, and is predicted to step on the field. Jordan is Mississippi's No. 2 baseball recruit and is the third person from Jackson Academy to be named Gatorade Player of the Year. It is not at all easy to step on the field as a Freshmen but out of anyone Jordan is the best candidate to do so.
Colton Ledbetter CF
Colton Ledbetter is definitely a stand out player. Through the years he has won award after award his most recent one being Sports Media Association Baseball All Conference First Team. Ledbetter had an amazing last season at Samford, he hit .318 with 16 home runs and a .640 slugging percentage. His 2023 season with Mississippi State will be exciting to watch.
Hunter Hines 1B
In the 2022 season, Hunter Hines was awarded with D1 Baseball Freshman All-American. He even started all 56 games last season, which is extremely tough to do. Freshmen are considered lucky to even touch the field for a couple of games. Hines had a batting average of .300 on 63 hits and 16 of those were doubles. Hunter Hines is among the extraordinary and will bring a lot to the team this season.
Amani Larry 2B
A transfer from the University of New Orleans who has accomplished so much before even coming to State. In the 2022 season Amani Larry finished third in the league for batting average (.370), first in base percentage (.477), first in runs scored and third in RBI's (56). The list continues on but Larry is a great asset to the Bulldogs and will be seen on the field quite often.
Slate Alford 3B
For the past year Slate Alford has been a player on the rise. Last season he appeared in 26 games and started in 12. On 43 hits last season Alford had a batting average of .209, there will definitely be time this season to improve at bat but third base is his to keep. In the offseason he has worked incredibly hard and may surprise most in this season.
Lane Forsythe SS
Mississippi State is full of great players and Lane Forsythe has done great work so far and this season State fans hope to see him excel. In his sophomore season he accumulated a batting average off of 30 hits, drove in 30 RBI's, drew 15 walks, and stole four bases. Out of the 56 games played he appeared in 48 and started for shortstop in 36 of those of those games. Forsythe's forte is shortstop and is unlikely to move away from his position.