J.D. PicKell of On3 Sports has a segment during the football offseason where he makes bold predictions. He calls it “Calling My Shot.” Taking a page out of PicKell’s playbook — and in the spirit of Dwight Schrute’s belief that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” — I am doing the same for Mississippi State University baseball. The Bulldogs open the season this Friday and expectations are high. Here are my bold predictions for the 2025 season.
Mississippi State’s improved bullpen will be a game-changer
One of Mississippi State’s biggest issues last season was the depth of the pitching roster. The Bulldogs struggled to hold leads late in games, and it cost them more than a few wins. But this year’s roster looks a lot different, and the pitching staff has been rebuilt with key transfer additions.
Headlining that group is senior Chase Hungate, who transferred from Virginia after posting a 7-2 record with a 3.74 ERA in 30 appearances. Hungate is expected to take on a high-leverage relief role, something Mississippi State lacked a season ago.
Another key addition is junior Jacob Pruitt from Indiana State. He was limited to just 13 appearances last season due to injury but still managed a 3.02 ERA in 41.2 innings. Pruitt is a versatile arm who can either start or work long relief, giving the Bulldogs much-needed flexibility.
Head coach Chris Lemonis is confident in his pitching staff but knows it will take time for roles to settle.
“We have a lot of guys in the mix that could start,” Lemonis said. “A lot of our talent on the mound is young, just haven’t been out there on the Dude yet. But I think we’ll pitch at a pretty high level.”
The Bulldogs are also expecting good things from returning arms like sophomore Mikhai Grant, freshman Dane Burns and senior Nate Williams, who will help solidify the bullpen.
Simply put, Mississippi State will close out more games in 2025.
Mississippi State transfer Ace Reese will be key in pushing them to Omaha
Mississippi State landed one of the top transfers in college baseball this offseason in sophomore Ace Reese, and he is going to be one of the biggest keys to success this year.
The former Houston standout is expected to be Mississippi State’s everyday third baseman, and his power at the plate will be crucial in the heart of the lineup. Reese was a Big 12 All-Freshman selection, hitting .278 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs last season, and nearly half of his hits went for extra bases.
Lemonis and his staff prioritized low-strikeout hitters in the portal, and Reese fits that mold. He has a great approach at the plate, and his ability to hit for power without a high strikeout rate makes him a potential breakout star.
“He’s a guy that can play anywhere on the field,” Lemonis said. “But he looks really comfortable at third, and we think he can be a big-time player for us.”
If Reese lives up to his potential, he could be the missing piece that helps push Mississippi State back to Omaha.
Mississippi State will be the best baseball team in the state
Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Southern Miss have all been national contenders in recent years, but in 2025, the Bulldogs will reclaim their spot as the top team in the Magnolia State.
The Rebels are coming off a down year and lost key pieces, including pitcher Austin Simmons, while Southern Miss is entering its second season under head coach Christian Ostrander.
Meanwhile, Mississippi State loaded up in the transfer portal, returns one of the best power hitters in the country in Hunter Hines, and will field one of its deepest lineups in years.
“I like our group a lot,” Lemonis said. “We have some nice pieces. We’re an older team, we’ve got experience and I think we can do some special things.”
The Bulldogs will finish with the best record in the state and take down both in-state rivals in head-to-head matchups.
Mississippi State will host a regional
After not hosting in the NCAA Tournament since 2021, Mississippi State will not just make the postseason this year—they will host a regional at Dudy Noble Field.
The Bulldogs came close to earning a bid last year but let too many winnable games slip away. They lost to teams like Air Force, Austin Peay and Central Arkansas, all of which hurt their resume.
Lemonis does not expect those same mistakes this year.
“The talent level is there,” Lemonis said. “But it’s also about your culture, your team and the toughness that you play with. There are 10 games in the middle of the season that you have to fight for, and that’s what we have to do.”
Mississippi State’s offensive firepower, improved bullpen and experienced roster will put them in a position to host a regional, bringing postseason baseball back to Starkville for the first time since 2021.
Mississippi State will be “OmaDawgs” again
It has been three seasons since Mississippi State has been to the College World Series. That is three seasons too long for a program that expects to be there every year.
Lemonis believes this team has what it takes to get back to Omaha.
“Just watching them all year, seeing who they are, the age — we’re an older team,” Lemonis said. “I think we’ll pitch at a pretty high level, and I think we can do some special things in the lineup.”
Pitching has been a question mark the past two seasons, but Mississippi State finally has the arms to compete. The rotation will open with Pico Kohn, Karson Ligon and Stone Simmons, and Lemonis feels confident in that group.
“In the Virginia game, Pico was 92/94 against arguably one of the best offensive lineups in college baseball,” Lemonis said. “He’s the heaviest he’s been, the strongest he’s been mechanically. I’m excited for him.”
A deeper bullpen, a powerful lineup and experienced leadership should be the right formula for a return to Omaha.
The road back starts Friday at 4 p.m. against Manhattan at Dudy Noble Field, and we will see how these predictions hold up.
