Ole Miss second baseman Peyton Chatagnier enters transfer portal
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss second baseman Peyton Chatagnier, a stalwart at second base for the Rebels since arriving in 2020, has announced he is entering the transfer portal.
Thank you Rebel Nation❤️ pic.twitter.com/qE5JSZJ0uR
— Peyton Chatagnier (@peytonchat5) June 9, 2023
“The last 4 years at Ole Miss have been greater than I could have ever imagined. From day 1 of stepping onto campus, I have been welcomed and supported by the greatest fanbase. I have learned countless lessons, made the best memories and have been lucky enough to call my teammates some of my greatest friends. The Ole Miss faculty and coaching staff has guided me every step of the way, on the field and across the stage.”
Peyton Chatagnier
The Rebels’ second baseman went on to thank his coaching staff and fans.
“Coach (Carl) Laff (Lafferty) has shown me to let loose and never lose my sense of self. Coach Cleary has never failed to encourage me through every high and low. Coach (Mike) Clem (Clement) has taught me how to be a better man on and off the field. And lastly, Coach (Mike) B (Bianco) has installed in me the toughness to embrace adversity. I truly believe that with adversity comes faith and faith means trusting in a plan that’s greater than you. This decision has not been easy and has required a lot of thought and prayers, but with that being said, I have decided to enter the transfer portal for my last year of eligibility. I am excited for what’s to come and to see what is written in my next chapter. Rebel Nation, you are special, and Oxford, you will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you, Ole Miss.“
Peyton has been a four-year starter for Ole Miss, and it’s hard to imagine the Diamond Rebs without him. This past season, Chatagnier appeared in 51 games, making 51 starts at second base. He hit .261 with 10 home runs, 26 RBI and 32 runs scored.
The 2023 Ole Miss team finished with an overall record of 25-29, going 6-24 in SEC action. The Rebels were one of only two teams who did not make the cut for the SEC Tournament in Hoover this season, marking the first time Ole Miss missed the conference tournament since 2011.
In 2022, Chatagnier’s junior year, he helped lead the Rebels to a College World Series championship, appearing in all 62 games (starting 61) en route to the title. He hit .248 with 11 home runs, 45 RBI and 32 runs scored.
He played a truly pivotal role in Ole Miss’ Regional win in Coral Gables, including driving home six runs in the win over the Arizona Wildcats and breaking a 4-4 tie with his bases-clearing double in the eighth.
REBS LEAD!
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/eXzZIrjGNi
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 5, 2022
As a sophomore in 2021, he appeared in 56 games, making 56 starts (55 at second base, one at third base). He hit .271 with 41 runs scored, 13 doubles, six home runs and 43 RBI. He was named Week 1 SEC Player of the Week.
Chatagnier’s freshman season in 2020 was cut short due to the spread of COVID-19. Before the season was stopped, he appeared in all 17 games, starting 15 at second base. He was named an SEC Fab Freshman by D1Baseball.com and led all Rebel freshmen with .311 batting average while slugging .574 and posting a .449 on-base percentage.
Peyton has given Rebel fans so many memorable moments over the years. Here are a few:
GOOD LORD, Peyton Chatagnier
(@peytonchat5) goes deep and @OleMissBSB has four home runs in two innings!#CollegeBaseball | @TCEonSGPN— Noah Bieniek (@Seventy7NB) April 23, 2022
Peyton Chatagnier with a glove flip to twist the double play, HOW BOUT IT #RebsBSB #OleMaha #MCWS #NCAABaseball
— Noah Bieniek (@Seventy7NB) June 26, 2022
Ole Miss’ Peyton Chatagnier makes an amazing jumping catch!#CollegeBaseball // #NCAABaseball
pic.twitter.com/ZcZ0A7mA1p— Roundin’ Third Baseball Podcast 🎙 (@RoundnThird) March 19, 2022
T7 | CLUTCH! Peyton Chatagnier drops one into no-man's land in center to make it a 6-3 Rebel lead!
🎥 @FloBaseball
📡 https://t.co/kCmwSPS7e5@peytonchat5 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/DdKcGwV2UQ— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 21, 2021
Peyton Chatagnier is simply too nice with the glove pic.twitter.com/3h5FBCuc9w
— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) June 26, 2022
Well, you don't see this every day 👀
Ole Miss’ Peyton Chatagnier stole every base to score 😱🔥
(via @SECNetwork)pic.twitter.com/RyZJIHnHQp
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 10, 2022
God bless you, Peyton. We thank you for all you brought to Ole Miss baseball and to Rebel Nation, and we will forever be rooting for you.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
