Ole Miss bats off to a hot start

OXFORD, Miss. — Through four games this season, Ole Miss has been swinging some seriously hot bats, hitting .382 thus far as a team. Ole Miss currently ranks among the top in the SEC in most of the major offensive categories.

• Batting average: .382 (3rd)
• Slugging percentage: .733 (3rd)
• On-base percentage: .475 (3rd)
• Runs scored: 46 (T-2nd)
• Hits: 50 (3rd)
• Runs batted in: 44 (T-2nd)
• Doubles: 11 (3rd)
• Triples: 1 (T-7th)
• Home runs: 11 (2nd)
• Total bases: 96 (2nd)

Contributions throughout the lineup

The offense has received contributions from a plethora of players to this point in the season. Of the players who have two plate appearances per game played and played in 75 percent of those games, all have batting averages above .300. 

Currently Peyton Chatagnier and Kemp Alderman are leading the way. Chatagnier is batting a crisp .583 with a double, two home runs and five RBI.

Peyton Chatagnier is now 5-8 with 5 RBI’s and 2 HR so far. He’s still feeling it.

pic.twitter.com/nsshw60oKg

— Austin Eldridge (@AustinonAir1021) February 19, 2023

We all know about the power that Alderman has. It’s been on display with his two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI while boasting a .467 batting average.

And that makes two, thanks to @KempAlderman 💣💣 pic.twitter.com/s08bGSDHMp

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 19, 2023

While some of the other everyday starters don’t have the eye-popping batting averages like Chatagnier and Alderman, they are still making a big impact at the plate. 

Jacob Gonzalez leads the team with nine RBI with a strong .313 batting average. His grand slam on opening weekend against Delaware is a great example of the threat he poses when batters ahead of him in the lineup can get on base. 

We've got dinger No. 1 for Ole Miss shortstop Jacob Gonzalez, and it's a grand slam. Really leaned on this one. pic.twitter.com/ee3MOuEZml

— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) February 19, 2023

Along with Gonzalez at the top of the lineup, Ethan Groff has picked up right where he left off at Tulane last season. Groff is batting .385 with two doubles, a home run, six RBI and a team-leading 5 stolen bases. 

THIRD homer of the inning! @ethangroff12 with his first bomb as a Rebel. pic.twitter.com/Kqh4ETuVRv

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 18, 2023

In addition to all the above, we’ve also got Calvin Harris, Ethan Lege and TJ McCants, who have each started in all four games. The hitters in the middle to the bottom of the lineup are the ones that often don’t get the praise they deserve. 

• Calvin Harris: .357 BA, one double, one triple and three RBI, two sacrifice flies
• Ethan Lege: .308 BA, one double and one RBI, one sacrifice fly
• TJ McCants: .417 BA, two doubles, one home run, one RBI, .563 on base percentage

Leadoff triple for @Calvin_Harris33 🌽 pic.twitter.com/7oIpOHOLqy

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 19, 2023

B4 | @_ethanlege has reached three times and scored three times as the Rebs push the lead to nine.

Ole Miss 9, Delaware 0 pic.twitter.com/plqfgeiKdb

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 19, 2023

TJ McCants still sent it out with the leg cramp #TeamEaston @OleMissBSB pic.twitter.com/tsmtx8wzgC

— Easton Baseball (@EastonBaseball) February 22, 2023

While everyone loves a good Swayze shower, sometimes what matters is doing something as small as grounding out to the right side of the infield with a runner at second base and passing the baton to the next guy and letting him hit a ball to the outfield that allows that runner to score from third. 

Good offenses at this level are predicated on productive at-bats — not nine batters swinging out of their shoes trying to do it all themselves; after all, baseball is a team sport.

Another thing that is good to see early in the season is guys getting the opportunity to get at-bats in lopsided games. Mike Bianco certainly has plenty of options when filling out the lineup card at first base and designated hitter. Ethan Calarco, Will Furniss, Tywone Malone and Judd Utermark have all shown the ability, to this point, to supply some production. 

LONG GONE. 💣 @WillFurniss pic.twitter.com/X9LLWPB0y7

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 21, 2023

A cool 112 off the bat in your Rebel debut. 😮‍💨

🚀 @JuddUtermark pic.twitter.com/jMranGljFo

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 18, 2023

We mic'd up @TywoneMalone, so of course he hit one off the batter's eye. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/zPYf05linH

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 22, 2023

The Rebs are on the board for 2023 courtesy of @antcalarco! pic.twitter.com/yRa5NmF9ce

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 17, 2023

Team captain Garrett Wood also provides the Rebels with the luxury of having an experienced player who can hit from both sides of the plate and play anywhere in the infield. Not only is he a jack of all trades, but he is also clutch.

Walk us off, cap! @Gwood22Wood drives home two to trigger the run rule and send us home! pic.twitter.com/waXZtF0Xk6

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 18, 2023

Thus far, Chatagnier has been batting at the bottom of the lineup and having a guy like him that can turn a lineup over and get guys like Groff, Gonzalez and Alderman to the plate with runners on base is a huge advantage. 

Yes, of course it is far too early in the season to guarantee a repeat trip to the CWS. There are still 52 regular season games and a postseason left to navigate before we talk about getting to Omaha. And, yes, these first four games came against lesser competition. But it is promising to see the offensive output the Rebels have supplied thus far.

This weekend Ole Miss will host Maryland, a team that is ranked No. 13 by D1Baseball. It will be a good early test for the Rebels.

Stay tuned to the Rebel Walk throughout the season for coverage on the 2023 Ole Miss baseball season.

Hotty Toddy! 

(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)