Power Surge: Mike Bianco and Rebels Add Transfer Slugger Daniel Pacella to Outfield Mix

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss baseball received its second commit of the day, Saturday, as Illinois State outfielder Daniel Pacella pledged to Mike Bianco and the Rebs. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Pacella becomes the second outfielder to pledge to the Rebels on the same day, joining Clemson transfer Tristan Bissetta. With the entire 2025 starting outfield of moving on, head coach Mike Bianco and his staff continue to aggressively retool the lineup through the portal.

TRANSFER NEWS: @RedbirdBaseball superstar OF Daniel Pacella has entered the Transfer Portal. Pacella, who will be an #MLBDraft prospect, finished the 2025 season hitting .355 w/ 20 HR, 59 RBI and had a 1.143 OPS along with 30 walks.

Profile: https://t.co/M49vgVvrKv

Portal:… pic.twitter.com/LedePdLU0v

— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) June 4, 2025

Highly sought after, Pacella picked Ole Miss over offers from SEC rivals LSU, Tennessee, and Mississippi State.

Numbers speak for themselves

The numbers Pacella put up at Illinois State speak for themselves. In 2025, he hit a blistering .355 — which was tops on the team — with a 1.143 OPS while launching 20 home runs and driving in runs at a steady pace. His 20 home runs are the second-most in a single season for a Redbird. His slugging percentage climbed to an impressive .714, and he showcased gap-to-gap power with 19 doubles. Even with that kind of thump in his bat, Pacella displayed a mature approach at the plate, walking 30 times and striking out 50 times across the season — all while rarely popping up.

Pacella was named All-MVC First Team selection, and he started all 56 games at left field. Last season, he totaled 59 RBIs, seventh-most in a single season in program history, while tallying 41 extra-base hits. He sits second all-time for a Redbird with 45 career home runs and 169 career RBIs, and he became the first Redbird since Ryan Cermak to be named back-to-back All-MVC First Team.

He fielded at a .990 clip with 103 putouts and one assist and was named a Midwest All-Region Second-Team selection by ABCA/Rawlings.

Will the MLB Draft come calling?

At 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, Pacella brings serious presence to the plate and projects as a middle-of-the-order threat for the Rebels. Of course, his future in Oxford still hinges on next month’s MLB Draft. While professional teams have shown interest, many scouts appear to believe Pacella is likely to make his way to campus unless a sizable offer comes earlier than expected in the draft.

Scouts have projected him as a potential target in the middle rounds, but most believe he’s more likely to fall outside of the top 10 rounds — which would increase the chances of Pacella wearing the red and blue next season at Swayze Field.

Connection to the Rebels

Pacella isn’t entirely new to the Ole Miss dugout either — he previously played two seasons alongside Rebel infielder Luke Cheng during their time together at Illinois State, bringing another layer of familiarity to Oxford.

If he does make it to campus, Pacella’s power bat would fill a huge need for the Rebels as they rebuild their outfield and lineup heading into the 2026 season.

Stay with The Rebel Walk as we continue to cover portal season, recruiting, and MLB Draft decisions that will shape next year’s roster.