Ole Miss pitchers Saunier, Quinn, Carmack and Mallitz named to D1 Baseball Top Players List
OXFORD, Miss. — Three Ole Miss pitchers have made D1 Baseball’s Top-150 Starting Pitchers List, and one has made the Top 50 Relievers List.
D1Baseball recognizes starting pitchers JT Quinn, who comes in at No. 31 on the list, Grayson Saunier at No. 137, and Kyler Carmack at No. 142, all of whom have tallied quite a few innings of experience on the bump throughout their college careers. Josh Mallitz comes in at No. 39 on the Top 50 Relievers list.
Starting left-handed pitcher Xavier Rivas unfortunately tore his UCL in a scrimmage game last week and is out for the season.
JT Quinn
The first of these players, JT Quinn, is a guy who brings passion and fire to his game every time he steps on the mound. The Tampa native recorded 12 starts last season and throws an explosive fastball in the upper 90 mph range with a lethal curveball, which he throws around 85 mph. Having a year of SEC experience under his belt as a true freshman will pay dividends for the big man heading into year two.
Joe Healy of D1 Baseball writes of Quinn:
“With that year of experience under his belt and an offseason to reset and continue to mature, Quinn will be looked upon as a potential rotation stalwart going into the season. He certainly looks the part. He stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 220 pounds, works with a fastball that sits in the mid 90s, touching the low 90s, and uses a high-80s power slider as an out pitch. He’ll also flip in a high-70s curveball and a mid-80s changeup to round out his repertoire.”
Joe Healy on JT Quinn
Grayson Saunier
Grayson Saunier also made 12 starts as a true freshman for Ole Miss and, like Quinn, is looking to use that experience as he launches his second season on the mound for the Rebels.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder will look to establish his fastball early, a fastball that was up to 96 mph in the fall, backing it up with a dominant slider in the mid-to-low 80s that was featured quite a few times in 2023. He has a mid-to-high-70s curveball and a changeup.
Of Saunier, Aaron Fitt of D1 Baseball writes:
“Fellow sophomore righty Grayson Saunier is another big-bodied power righty with a high slot…Like Quinn, he has four legit pitches and has a chance to be special if he commands his arsenal. And given his athleticism, there’s reason to believe he is plenty capable of repeating his delivery and commanding the zone, as he did for most of the fall.”
Aaron Fitt on Grayson Saunier
It can’t be underestimated just how important it is for Mike Bianco to have both Quinn and Saunier on his staff this season.
Kyler Carmack
Kyler Carmack is third Ole Miss pitcher on the D1 list. The redshirt sophomore transfer from Arkansas State was a freshman All-American according to D1Baseball last year and led his team with a 3.23 earned run average. He ended his ‘23 season with a 5-3 record and pitched 69.2 innings, proving his elite arm condition. Carmack may be a player who flies under the radar heading into the year, but Rebel fans could soon find out just how much talent he possesses.
Josh Mallitz
Coming in on the Top 50 relievers list, Josh Mallitz has progressed well in his recovery from last fall’s Tommy John surgery. He is on track this spring after finishing up his throwing protocol at the conclusion of fall.
D1 Baseball writes of Mallitz:
“With a 92-94 fastball and a premium slider, Mallitz was a devastating bullpen weapon for the Rebels in 2022, when he posted a 1.45 ERA and a 48-13 K-BB mark in 31 IP. He’ll resume his role as bullpen anchor in 2024.”
D1 Baseball Staff on Josh Mallitz
What’s Next?
Ole Miss Baseball will travel to Hawaii to take on the Rainbow Warriors in the Rebels’ first series of the season, beginning February 16th. Hotty Toddy!
