Kemp Alderman wins the 2023 Ferriss Trophy honoring best baseball player in Mississippi
Philadelphia, Miss. – Ole Miss junior Kemp Alderman was named the winner of the 2023 Ferriss Trophy presented by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and Pearl River Resort Monday in a lunchtime ceremony. The award goes to the best collegiate baseball player in the state of Mississippi.
Kemp Alderman with the 2023 Ferriss Trophy. (Photo credit: Mike Azlin)
Alderman becomes the first Rebel to win the award since Auston Bousfield in 2014.
The three-year letterman for the Rebels has played a variety of roles in his career, including two relief appearances on the mound this season.
Statistically, Alderman, a native of Decatur, Mississippi and a Newton County Academy graduate, excelled in numerous offensive categories. He led Ole Miss’ everyday players in total games in batting average (.376), OPS (1.149), at bats (213), hits (80), home runs (19), runs batted in (61), total bases (151), slugging percentage (.709), and on base percentage (.440).
Alderman’s conference stats were similar as he was atop the line-up (every day players) in batting average (.352), OPS (1.025), at bats (122), hits (43), home runs (8), total bases (76), slugging (.623), and on base percentage (.402).
In league play, Alderman finished seventh in the SEC in batting average, eighth in slugging percentage, fourth in hits, tied for seventh in runs batted in, tied for ninth in home runs, and fourth in total bases.
A college player’s junior year is widely considered to be his “draft year,” especially for athletes as gifted as Kemp. If Alderman does indeed exercise his option to turn pro after the Major League Baseball draft in July, he will be remembered by most for the power produced when his bat met the baseball — with exit velocities regularly measuring in the 113 to 117 miles-per-hour range and the insane “tape measure” home run shots.
His crown jewel, perhaps, was a 480-foot home run ball off the scoreboard at Swayze on April 11, 2023 vs. Memphis. He also cleared the “new” batters eye at Swayze.
Alderman brings a workmanlike approach to the field every day which many attribute to his rural background. He will forever be known as a member of the Rebels’ first National Championship team.
KEMP OFF THE SCOREBOARD pic.twitter.com/pLNIEyaGMZ
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 12, 2023
A two run blast from @KempAlderman brings the Rebs closer in the bottom of the 4th! It traveled 480 feet and came off the bat at 115 mph! pic.twitter.com/Lxcu8gvkDX
— Ole Miss BSB Analytics (@OMBSBAnalytics) April 12, 2023
Other finalist for this year’s Ferriss Trophy were Ty Hill of Jackson State, Hunter Hines of Mississippi State, and Slade Wilks and Tanner Hall from Southern Miss.
2023 Ferris Trophy winner Kemp Alderman (center) with the other nominees. (Photo credit: Mike Azlin)
Congratulations to Kemp!
Chris Muller
Chris is our Director of Baseball Content and Senior Baseball Writer. Muller is a 1995 Graduate of Ole Miss. He is a collegiate recreational sports professional currently residing in Arlington Texas with his wife of 25 years, Amber, and German Shorthaired Pointer, Sophie. Chris is an avid Ole Miss Baseball and Football fan. His hobbies include watching college football and baseball and playing poker with his friends.
