Ole Miss Rebels’ Daniel Pacella Named to D1 Baseball’s List of Top 50 Transfer Portal Hitters
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss baseball exceeded expectations in the 2025 season, going from a predicted next-to-last finish all the way to hosting regionals at Swazye.
However, the Rebels’ outfield — who was a big part of that surge — exhausted their eligibility, leaving a big hole for head coach Mike Bianco to fill.
However, that’s just what the skipper did when he went out and grabbed Illinois State Redbirds outfielder Daniel Pacella. Pacella was a stud for the Redbirds over his last three seasons, never batting under .300 in his time at Illinois State.
On Thursday afternoon, Pacella was named to D1 Baseball Top 50 Transfer Portal Hitters, coming in at No. 28. D1 Baseball publisher Kendall Rogers writes this about Pacella:
“It was slightly surprising to me that Pacella didn’t get some serious looks as at least an Undrafted Free Agent after three-straight high-production seasons with the Redbirds. Pacella has an imposing frame at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, and is coming off three seasons where he hit well north of .300 with a plethora of power production. His home run totals in the three seasons at ISU are 16, 12 and 20, while also hitting 44 doubles in those campaigns total. Pacella has also finished each of the last two seasons with an OPS north of 1.000.”
Kendall Rogers on Daniel Pacella
#️⃣2️⃣8️⃣ https://t.co/cARHGNpQLe pic.twitter.com/guzKawFdBF
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) August 28, 2025
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. For his efforts, he earned MVC First Team honors.
Although the Rebels return a number of hitters, Pacella is still expected to play a major role for Bianco’s squad and is currently projected to slot into the middle of a very well rounded lineup.
He stands at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds and is historically a reliable player as he has played in 50 or more games in every season so far, including appearing in all 56 games for the Redbirds last season.
Bianco and Co. worked hard in the portal and will also return some key players, building what could be yet another regional host in 2026. Look for Pacella to play a key role for Ole Miss’ 2026 squad.
Billy Kuhl
Billy Kuhl joins The Rebel Walk as a sophomore at Ole Miss majoring in Journalism with a Sports Media concentration. He is from Jefferson Township, New Jersey and graduated from Jefferson Township High School where he played varsity baseball, and soccer, and swam competitively in his summers. You can contact him at wpkuhl88@gmail.com or DM him on X @Billykuhll or instagram @Billykuhll_
