Ole Miss Baseball Adds Key Transfer Arm as Marko Sipila Joins from SDSU

OXFORD, Miss. — The Ole Miss pitching staff just got a serious boost.

San Diego State right-handed pitcher Marko Sipila has committed to Ole Miss out of the transfer portal, becoming the fifth addition to the Rebels’ growing haul this offseason. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Independence, Minnesota native brings experience, command, and momentum—three traits that are sure to make an immediate impact in Oxford.

Last one in Oxford #hottytoddy pic.twitter.com/o0CgkBeC3X

— Marko Sipila (@SipilaMarko) June 21, 2025

After starting his college career at Colorado-Colorado Springs, Sipila’s development took a sharp upward turn. His ERA steadily improved over three seasons, dropping from a challenging 10.69 his freshman year to a standout 3.91 as a junior with the Aztecs. That kind of growth speaks volumes about his work ethic—and his upside.

In 2025, Sipila tossed 71.1 innings and posted a 74:25 strikeout-to-walk ratio, earning All-Mountain West honors. He limited opposing hitters to a .256 average while throwing 65% of his pitches for strikes—a stat Rebels fans will appreciate given the staff’s focus on limiting free passes.

Congrats to our two #MWBSB All-Tournament honorees @NevanNoonan and @SipilaMarko! #GoAztecs

📰 Story: https://t.co/txcA1YPlDQ pic.twitter.com/UerBxGsuUK

— San Diego State Baseball (@AztecBaseball) May 25, 2025

Sipila boasts a four-pitch arsenal. His fastball sits in the low-90s and can touch higher, while his split-finger—his go-to secondary pitch—works in the mid-80s and creates deceptive movement. He also mixes in a slider and curveball, giving him a complete toolbox to challenge hitters on both sides of the plate.

“He just took over the game. He’s just changing speeds, and we couldn’t square anything up. He was really good, and we did nothing to change that.”@SipilaMarko tossed seven shutout innings to lead @AztecBaseball to an 8-0 win over UNLV at the @MountainWest tournament. pic.twitter.com/Nwp2QPKrvp

— D1Baseball (@d1baseball) May 22, 2025

Ole Miss beat out several major programs for Sipila’s services, including Kentucky, Texas A&M, Oregon, and Arizona. His commitment follows a visit to Oxford, where he met with the Rebel staff and toured facilities earlier this week.

Head coach Mike Bianco and pitching coach Carl Lafferty continue to rebuild a rotation that will look drastically different in 2026. With Hunter Elliott expected to explore the MLB Draft, the Rebels are already preparing to replace Riley Maddox and Mason Nichols who helped lead this past season’s team to 43 wins and a regional host bid.

Joining Sipila in the new-look Rebel rotation are transfers Grant Richardson (Grand Canyon) and Wil Libbert (Missouri)—two southpaws with starting experience and strike-throwing ability of their own. The Rebels clearly have a plan, and Sipila fits perfectly into that vision.

He finished his junior season with an impressive streak—18 consecutive scoreless innings against New Mexico, UNLV, and Washington State—indicating he’s hitting his stride at just the right time.

With his command, experience, and pitchability, Sipila arrives in Oxford ready to compete—and potentially earn a significant role in the weekend rotation. Stay tuned as the Rebels continue to build toward what promises to be another exciting season on the diamond.

Hotty Toddy! ⚾