Ole Miss baseball scrimmage Saturday vs. Jacksonville State offers chance for fans to see solid 2024 pitching corps
OXFORD, Miss. — Coming on the heels of the Rebels’ baseball national championship in 2022, the 2023 season was a rough one. Ole Miss ended the season with a 25-29 overall record, 6-24 in the SEC, which placed them last in the league. But as we prepare for the team’s first scrimmage of the new season, we take a look at one key area we think will be a strong one this upcoming season: pitching.
Outside of the intrasquad scrimmages, fans can get their first view of some of the Ole Miss pitchers against an opponent — Jacksonville State — at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Swayze.
What @GraysonSaunier said! See you at Swayze.
📆 Saturday
⏰ 1 p.m.
🎟️ FREE pic.twitter.com/t4xwg20fec— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) October 10, 2023
“It breaks the monotony,” Bianco said. “The fall can get long, the 45 days that you’re out there. To be able to play somebody in a different uniform is always exciting,” he added.
The game against Jacksonville State will be 14 innings, so there should be an opportunity to see a good number of Rebel arms.
“We see, as coaches, the advantages of both playing yourself in an intrasquad game and being able to evaluate and see more guys at one time. But there’s also a huge plus when you see them against somebody else, when you see them compete against another team in the other dugout. I know the guys are excited and the coaches as well.”
Coach Bianco
Last season Ole Miss struggled on the mound at times, posting a 6.40 earned run average (ERA) while allowing 327 earned runs and 266 walks. To put that in perspective, in 2022, the Rebs’ team ERA finished at 4.21 and they gave up 264 earned runs and 234 walks.
Baseball is a game of inches and even the smallest differences in numbers such as those can determine whether you are a national champion or the last-place finisher in the SEC.
Strong corps of returning arms led by Saunier, Quinn and Rivas
Fortunately, 2024 is a new season and there are several returning Rebels on the bump who are on pace for a breakout season, including some sensational sophomores. Grayson Saunier, JT Quinn, Brayden Jones, and Sam Tookoian all saw a minimum of 19 innings on the mound last year, either as a starter or relief pitcher. Sophomore Cole Ketchum had Tommy John surgery and Tookoian is rehabbing a shoulder injury. Tookoian has started throwing pens again.
The two now-sophomores who were most frequently on the field last season are Saunier and Quinn, who held starting roles for almost the entire 2023 season. Thus far this fall, according to Ole Miss baseball, the two sit atop the Rebel pitching charts, each at a 1.17 ERA through 7.2 innings of work.
Quinn, a 6-foot-6 right-hander out of Tampa, made the second-most starts on the team last season (12) while notching the third-most strikeouts (63).
Saunier is a cool-headed, right-handed arm with off-the-chart natural ability and a work ethic second to none. He tied Quinn for the second-most starts on the team (12) last season and was named SEC Freshman of the Week after allowing just one run to both Mississippi State and Georgia at the end of April.
Heading into their second year, there is no doubt this pair of right-handers will take on an even larger role for the Rebs, both on the mound and with their leadership.
“I still think there’s more in the tank. They continue to get better,” Coach Bianco said earlier this week of Quinn and Saunier.
“It’s one of those things where it’s hard to put in words or show visually the word experience, but you see that in them every day that they walk out there. They don’t look like freshmen. They look like seasoned vets out there, the way they handle themselves, the way they go about their business, and both have gotten off to a really good start this fall.”
Coach Bianco on Saunier and Quinn
Besides Quinn and Saunier, there’s the southpaw of the likely starting rotation, Xavier Rivas. The Indianapolis transfer led the team last season in innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins.
Thus far this fall, Quinn is tied with Rivas with a team-high 12 Ks. Saunier, meanwhile, has been the Rebels’ most efficient arm, leading the team with just 0.65 walks and hits allowed per inning pitched. These three form a very solid foundation for Ole Miss pitching this season.
Additional names who could play a significant role on the mound include Riley Maddox and Mason Nichols who dealt with injuries last season. Bullpen ace Josh Mallitz went through Tommy John surgery and looks to rejoin the team for the 2024 season; although, he is not going through fall practices. Mitch Murrell is also back for another season.
And, of course, there’s no talk about Ole Miss baseball without discussing Rebel ace Hunter Elliott who underwent Tommy John surgery back in May, which typically comes with at least a 12-month recovery period, minimum. Even though reports suggest his recovery is on schedule, one would have to expect he would miss most all of the upcoming season.
Once you add the transfers and freshmen to this special group of returning players, the Ole Miss pitching staff appears to have an influx of depth that bodes well for the team. The returning pitchers are stronger than ever and newcomers such as transfers Kyler Carmack (Arkansas State), Gunnar Dennis (Meridian CC), Liam Doyle (Coastal Carolina) Ryne Rodriguez (Weatherford College) and freshman Wes Mendes, are also there and will no doubt break out.
Fans, get an early look at what pitchers will stand out this Saturday in Swayze Field where the Rebs will face off against Jacksonville State for their first scrimmage of the fall! You’ll get to see all your favorite returnees as well as get a look at the newcomers.
Scrimmage info
Gates open at 11 a.m. CT. Parking is available for free in all lots across the street from the stadium, in left field and in street spots adjacent to the field. Parking is not permitted in right field. No pets are allowed. Limited concessions will be available in the main concourse.
Hotty Toddy!
