Breaking: Massive News As Mississippi State Leads The Nation With Eleven Major League Draft Picks
Mississippi State had a very busy day on day three of the Major League Baseball Draft. As the dust settles, there were more Diamond Dawgs drafted than any other SEC program’s players.
The 2024 Major League Baseball Draft has concluded, with Mississippi State leading all Southeastern Conference programs with eleven players selected. The full impact of the draft remains uncertain as some players must decide whether to return to college for another year or sign a professional contract. Despite these pending decisions, Mississippi State achieved a favorable outcome from the draft.
The Signing Class:
Mississippi State lost two high school signees from the 2024 class: outfielder Dante Nori (Philadelphia) and IF/P Conrad Cason (Boston). The rest of the class went undrafted, though many received calls to gauge their interest in signing. Most chose to pass on professional baseball to pursue a college career in maroon and white.
Charlie Foster and Conner Barth were the only prep prospects who did not report with the rest of the high school signees on July 5th. They will start making arrangements to move to Starkville around the beginning of the month, before the fall semester begins.
One of the biggest wins in the draft for Mississippi State is retaining JuCo standout Kevin Mannell. The former Kansas State pitcher spent last year at Cloud County Community College (KS). Mannell was one of five signees invited to the Major League Baseball combine last month in Phoenix, Arizona. Of those five, three, including Mannell, are heading to school. The talented right-hander is expected to play a significant role in Mississippi State’s pitching plans.
The incoming Mississippi State class of 2024 originally had twenty members before the draft. Eighteen of them are expected to be on campus for fall baseball, competing for roles on the spring roster.
The Pitchers:
The 2024 Draft set a new record for the number of Mississippi State pitchers drafted, with eight being selected. The previous record was seven, set during the 2019 draft. Of the eight draftees, three arrived in Starkville via the NCAA transfer portal, and three were junior college products. Jurrangelo Cijntje, a first-rounder, was the only high school pitching signee drafted this year. All eight pitchers showed significant improvement under the guidance of Mississippi State pitching coach Justin Parker.
While most of the selections were anticipated or hoped for, Cam Schuelke’s late pick was somewhat surprising. Due to his age, it is expected that he will sign a professional contract, foregoing his final year of college eligibility.
The Returners:
State slugger Hunter Hines was anticipated to be drafted within the first ten rounds but was not. Although Hines could pursue a free agent deal, he plans to return to Dudy Noble Field to aim for the program’s career home run record and a shot at Omaha.
Pitcher Pico Kohn turned down offers from big league clubs on the last two days of the draft. Kohn is expected to be a weekend starter for the 2025 Diamond Dawgs. As he regained his health last season, his performance improved significantly, highlighted by a stellar outing in the NCAA regional game against Virginia. While his return might not be widely recognized, it is a crucial development for the team.
Pitcher Karson Ligon:
Pitcher Karson Ligon was rumored to have a relatively high asking price, which apparently deterred teams from reaching an agreement with him, leading to him going undrafted. Ligon has had an outstanding summer and seems to be returning to the form that made him a weekend starter at Miami.
The Waiting Game:
Mississippi State transfer commit RHP Travis Smith (Kentucky) was selected in the 15th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. He now faces a decision. Sources close to the situation indicate that Smith is seeking more than the $150,000 threshold typically allotted for picks on day three. Whether he will receive that amount remains uncertain. Any signing bonus exceeding $150,000 would count against the Brewers’ bonus pool.
Fan favorite David Mershon was picked in the 18th round by the California Angels, much later than most anticipated. There was speculation that Mershon might opt to pass on signing due to the late selection. Now, the Angels and Mershon will negotiate a potential deal, with both sides having until noon on August 1st to reach an agreement.
2023 signee LHP Dane Burns was taken in the 17th round by Kansas City. Burns, who signed with the Bulldogs as part of last year’s class but sat out to recover from Tommy John surgery, has had a strong summer, putting him back on the draft radar. Currently, it is expected that Burns will attend school and join the team for the fall. This move will not be official until he enrolls in classes or the signing deadline passes.