Ole Miss Baseball: A look at the transfer position players who have joined the Rebels
OXFORD, Miss. — Last year’s Ole Miss baseball team was as talented as any in the country, which was proven this past June with the Rebels’ national championship. But as is the case every season, no roster is ever the same from year to year.
Ole Miss returns some key pieces from that memorable 2022 championship team, but for 2023 the Rebels have also brought in some talented transfer players who have experience and will be leaned on to help the team return to Omaha for a second straight year.
Let’s take a look at these talented portal additions.
Ethan Groff
Outfielder Ethan Groff, who hits and throws right handed, comes to Ole Miss from Tulane. The Orlando, Florida native had quite the season with the Green Wave in 2022, playing in 41 games and finishing the season with a .404 batting average, 15 doubles and nine home runs — including a walk-off homer against Mississippi State.
He notched a .709 slugging percentage and was named to the ABCA South All-Region First Team. Groff also collected 72 put outs in right field with only a single error on the season.
Tulane was losing 10-2 against #9 Mississippi State today
They came all the way back to win on a walk-off homer by Ethan Groff
— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) March 5, 2022
The combination of Groff’s extra-base hit power, speed, and on-base ability certainly gives Mike Bianco another great hitter for the lineup.
“A kid that I think is kind of what the portal is all about,” Bianco said of Groff at media day.
“He was a kid who was having a great year at Tulane, got injured, probably would have got drafted last year very high and left. But because of an injury, he did not get drafted and he gives us some depth in the outfield. [He’s] a guy that can certainly play center field. We feel he is a top of the lineup bat. He will bring some speed to the bases that is needed and so he is a good addition by our staff.”
Head coach Mike Bianco on Groff
Ethan Lege
Ethan Lege is an Abbeville, Louisiana native who comes to Ole Miss after playing at Delgado Community College in New Orleans, following an earlier stint at Nicholls State in 2020.
In 51 games in 2022, Lege batted .398 with 13 doubles and four home runs to go along with his 32 RBI. He was named a NJCAA D-I All-American last season. The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder was drafted in this past year’s MLB Draft in the 16th round by the Milwaukee Brewers, but he deferred and came to Oxford.
Ohhhh @_ethanlege wasn’t done 😤 after making a ridiculous catch in foul ground he decides to a hammer a 💣 #hottytoddy I love when I come to watch upcoming IOTB guests and they show out 🔥🔥🔥 @Jeezy901 @DanielWBaughII @rebelinc @JWallace2001 @SwayzeCrazies @Swayze_CrazyBSB pic.twitter.com/cpVhPbdP4L
— Jim Cross (@J_Cross2146) February 5, 2023
“[Lege is an] infielder, mostly played third base in the fall…. but I think is ready to play immediately.“
Coach Bianco on Lege
Anthony Calarco
Anthony Calarco is a transfer from Northwestern where he played for four seasons. A native of Wilmette, Illinois, Calarco is a left-handed hitting first baseman who was first-team All-Big Ten for the Wildcats in 2021.
For the 2022 season, Calarco played in 51 games and led the Wildcats with a team-high 13 home runs while hitting .325. He scored 48 runs and notched 54 RBI with a .619 slugging percentage. Calarco was named All-Big 10 first baseman in 2021.
T5 | Anthony Calarco gets involved!
That's nine RBIs in nine games for our All-Big Ten 1B 📈#GoCats pic.twitter.com/MpD9LIKeaC
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 4, 2022
“He is certainly going to give us another good addition in the middle of the lineup.”
Mike Bianco on Calarco
Bo Gatlin
Bo Gatlin transfers in from Meridian Community College, where he played for two seasons. Gatlin is actually an Oxford, Miss. native who attended Oxford High School.
Blessed to announce I will be continuing my baseball career at Ole Miss! Thank you to my family, friends, teammates and coaches for the continued support. Hotty Toddy! pic.twitter.com/RzAzFCmaqC
— Bo (@BoGatlin) April 22, 2022
Five for five with three doubles and a 💣!! Game two starting now. @BoGatlin pic.twitter.com/zk2iYKvjVH
— Heidi Allen Gatlin Smith (@heidigatlin) March 17, 2022
In 2021, he was named a NJCAA D-II All-American as he batted .411 with 22 doubles, 12 home runs and 54 RBI in 47 games, while at both shortstop and third base.
Season opener set for February 17
Ole Miss opens the 2023 season on February 17 at 4:00 p.m. (CT) at Swayze as the Rebels host the Delaware Blue Hens.
Nick Filipich
Nick Filipich was born and raised in Biloxi, MS. He is an Ole Miss alum with a degree in Sports and Recreation Administration. A sports junkie with a great passion for all things Ole Miss, Nick played baseball and football in high school — which is where he discovered his love for sports. He is an avid Braves and Saints fan, and in his free time enjoys spending time with family, friends and his black lab, Dixie.
