Coach Bianco offers positive news on potential return of pitchers Hunter Elliott and Riley Maddox
OXFORD, Miss. — Immediately following the series loss to Arkansas Saturday at Swayze Field, Ole Miss baseball coach Mike Bianco had some encouraging news regarding two of the Rebels’ talented pitchers, Friday night ace Hunter Elliott who has been out due to injury and reliever Riley Maddox, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May, 2022.
Elliott, the talented ace of the Rebel staff hasn’t pitched in a game since the 2023 season opener against Delaware due to a UCL issue. After that initial outing, Elliott went into a rest and rehabilitation protocol.
Elliott earned Freshman All-American honors in 2022. The star lefty made 20 appearances last season, including 12 starts, for the eventual national champion Rebels. He finished second on the team in ERA (2.70) and strikeouts (102).
After the game-three loss to the Razorbacks Saturday, Coach Bianco was asked about Elliott’s status.
“Good. He threw a bullpen on Monday and Thursday, full speed. Felt great. He’ll throw another bullpen next week and pitch some hitters live prior going to Starkville and just continue to progress.”
Coach Bianco on Hunter Elliott
Bianco also offered a timeline for Elliott’s potential return.
“If he continues to hit all his marks and feel good, I would think he’ll pitch that LSU weekend in some capacity.”
Coach Bianco on timeline for Elliott to return
Riley Maddox
Coach Bianco delivered more good news concerning the Rebels’ pitching staff following the Arkansas series, explaining that Riley Maddox, the highly-touted freshman pitcher from 2022, looks to be back with the team within a few weeks.
Maddox, a Jackson Prep grad, suffered a flexer strain and a strained UCL before ultimately undergoing surgery last year. He was not expected to return this season, so it’s certainly another welcome surprise today for the Rebels on the medical front.
Hit a big milestone in my recovery today. First 100% bullpen, felt great and ready to get back out there again! pic.twitter.com/8GzTHefjj4
— Riley Maddox (@riley_maddox1) March 28, 2023
“He’s been terrific,” Coach Bianco said of Maddox.
“They’ve (Riley and Hunter Elliott) kind of been on the same day so I get to see their bullpen’s together, or one after another. He’s looked great. Usually when they get to this point, it’s not about pain. It’s about rhythm and pitching. It’s more can they pitch and he has. He’s thrown all his pitches — fastball, slider, change. This week he was able to throw in the protocol a breaking ball at full speed. He’s looked terrific and looks like he’s on his way to being back and that should probably be at the very end of this month.”
Coach Bianco on Riley Maddox
Ole Miss will definitely look forward to potentially getting these two pitching stars back in the rotation. Stay tuned to The Rebel Walk for more updates.
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
David Walker
David is the consummate true-freshman quarterback, first pioneering the position only a year after college freshmen were given varsity eligibility by the NCAA in 1972. In 1973, the left-handed all-state gunslinger from Sulphur, Louisiana started for the Texas A&M Aggies and earned the All-Southwest Conference Freshman of the Year award as selected by the league’s coaches. David is the first college quarterback ever awarded Freshman of the Year in the NCAA. He was only 17, and still holds the NCAA record as the youngest starting quarterback in college football history. He wore No. 8 at A&M in honor of one of his football heroes, Archie Manning.
In becoming the winningest quarterback ever at A&M, David was converted from a dual-threat QB to a triple option trailblazer. The two-time team captain led three record-breaking offenses that changed the direction of football at A&M forever, establishing once and for all the winning tradition that the Aggies had so-long desired.
As a high school head coach in Houston in the late ‘80s, David stationed his quarterback in the shotgun formation, having him reading defenses and throwing hot routes at a time when such offensive schemes were frowned upon by traditional fans and coaches. One of his quarterbacks tossed 57 passes in a single game, which stood as the all-time Greater Houston Area record for many years.
As you can tell from his bona fides, David is extremely qualified as our expert on all things Quarterback at Ole Miss. Enjoy his exclusive analysis only here at The Rebel Walk!
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