With the Mississippi State baseball season starting in 17 days, the expectations are high for the defending SEC champions. With not only the team expectations to deal with, the duo of sophomore Jake Mangum and junior Brent Rooker have personal expectations they must handle. Both players were named to different Preseason All-American squads.
Mangum, the returning SEC Freshman of the Year, has been named to the Baseball America second team. The award is given to him based off his superb freshman season for the Bulldogs. During his freshman year, Mangum hit .408, which was the highest in the league and gave him the SEC batting crown. 
Not only did he get the SEC batting crown, but he received the C. Spire Ferriss Trophy, which is awarded to the top baseball player in Mississippi. He was named ALL-SEC First Team and was recognized on seven different All-America Lists.
In 43 starts and 62 appearances, Mangum recorded a .408 batting average, a .458 on base percentage, .510 slugging percentage, hit one home run, three triples, and 12 doubles. 
After his outstanding freshman season, Mangum joined the Cape Cod baseball league and was named a 2016 Cape Cod Baseball League All Star.
Not only was he named to the Baseball America second team, but he was named to the Preseason All-America second team by Perfect Game. Perfect Game has Mangum rated as No. 25 on their list of Top 100 college sophomores.
Rooker, the returning home-run and RBI leader for the Bulldogs, was named to the Collegiate Baseball 2017 third team All-American team. After being drafted in the 38th round last season to the Minnesota Twins (1,134rd overall), Rooker elected to return to Starkville for another shot at Omaha. 
At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Rooker hit .324 with 11 home runs, 54 RBI, 15 doubles, two triples and two stolen bases in 58 total games. In the Starkville Regional, Rooker was named the Most Outstanding Player. 
Both Bulldogs look to improve on already fantastic 2016 seasons and help lead MSU to Omaha this season. The season opens up on Feb. 17 against Texas Tech, who participated in the 2016 College World Series. 
Rooker, the returning home-run and RBI leader for the Bulldogs, was named to the Collegiate Baseball 2017 third team All-American team. After being drafted in the 38th round last season to the Minnesota Twins (1,134rd overall), Rooker elected to return to Starkville for another shot at Omaha. 
At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Rooker hit .324 with 11 home runs, 54 RBI, 15 doubles, two triples and two stolen bases in 58 total games. In the Starkville Regional, Rooker was named the Most Outstanding Player. 
Both Bulldogs look to improve on already fantastic 2016 seasons and help lead MSU to Omaha this season. The season opens up on Feb. 17 against Texas Tech, who participated in the 2016 College World Series. 
Rooker, the returning home-run and RBI leader for the Bulldogs, was named to the Collegiate Baseball 2017 third team All-American team. After being drafted in the 38th round last season to the Minnesota Twins (1,134rd overall), Rooker elected to return to Starkville for another shot at Omaha. 
At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Rooker hit .324 with 11 home runs, 54 RBI, 15 doubles, two triples and two stolen bases in 58 total games. In the Starkville Regional, Rooker was named the Most Outstanding Player. 
Both Bulldogs look to improve on already fantastic 2016 seasons and help lead MSU to Omaha this season. The season opens up on Feb. 17 against Texas Tech, who participated in the 2016 College World Series.