Sunday was more than just another day on the diamond — it was a dream realized for one of Mississippi State University’s most beloved stars.
Jake Mangum, a Mississippi State legend and the SEC’s all-time hits leader, officially made his Major League Baseball debut with the Tampa Bay Rays, becoming the 71st Bulldog to reach the majors and the ninth currently active in the league.
Jake Mangum was drafted by the Mets in 2019 and played for the Brooklyn Cyclones, Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Syracuse Mets. After being traded to the Marlins in 2022, he joined the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. He was then traded to the Rays in 2023 and played for the Durham Bulls. Mangum’s perseverance has paid off with a long-awaited call-up to the show. The moment was made even more special by the presence of a packed crowd of family and friends who were on hand to witness his debut.
As for Mangum, he did not waste any time making his presence felt. Starting in right field and batting second, the Jackson Prep alumnus nearly got his first hit in his first at-bat, hitting a ball deep to the foul line in left field. It looked like it was Mangum’s time to get on base and an RBI, but the Rockies’ outfielder made an over-the-shoulder catch to deny him.
Mangum would finish the day 0-for-3 with a strikeout, though he did draw a walk and reach base once. More importantly, the Rays walked away with a 6-4 win over Colorado, improving to 2-1 early in the season. His second game on Monday night went better for Mangum as he went 4-4 with 2 RBI and 2 stolen bases. He is the first person in the modern MLB era to accomplish 4+ hits and 2 stolen bases since Casey Stengel did the same in first game in 1912.
When talking with MLB.com reporter Adam Berry, Mangum described his emotions when he got the call.
“Heartbeat went up a lot. It was special, man,” Mangum said. “Whenever you hear your name called, it’s indescribable.”
While Sunday may have been his first official MLB game, Mangum’s resume has been years in the making.
He originally committed to Alabama in 2013 before flipping to Mississippi State later that year, where he quickly became the face of Bulldogs’ baseball. He was nicknamed “The Mayor of Starkville” as a joke by his teammates as a freshman because he was so recognizable around the town of Starkville, and it just stuck with him. In 2016, he was named SEC Freshman of the Year after hitting .408 with 84 hits, 12 doubles and a career-best .510 slugging percentage. Over four seasons and 262 games in maroon and white, Mangum batted .357 and etched his name into the record books with 383 hits, more than any player in SEC history.
By the time he hung up his college cleats, Mangum had racked up 73 doubles, 10 triples, five home runs, 126 RBIs and 229 runs scored. More importantly, he helped guide Mississippi State to four NCAA Regionals, four Super Regionals and two College World Series appearances. He was drafted twice but chose to finish all four years at State, signing with the Mets in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft.
His pro career has not come easily. Mangum was traded twice in consecutive offseasons — first from the Mets to the Marlins, then from the Marlins to the Rays, both times as the “player to be named later.” But he continued to prove himself at every level. After reaching Triple-A in 2022, he spent all of 2023 there, leading the International League with a .317 average while also stealing 20 bases in 104 games.
In the same interview with MLB.com’s Berry, Mangum reflected on the road it took to this point.
“My pro ball journey started a little late, but my journey to this point – I couldn’t have scripted it any better,” Mangum said. “Just thankful to be where I’m at right now, thank God. Just really excited to get going.”
“The Mayor of Starkville” has fought hard to get to this point, and these games may have been the indication that it just may pay off.
