STARKVILLE — Add senior outfielder Jaron Shepherd to the list of Mississippi State baseball standouts to move on this offseason to professional baseball.
Shepherd, a 33rd-round selection earlier this month in Major League Baseball”s First-Year Player Draft, became the sixth player from the Bulldogs” 2011 NCAA Super Regionals squad to sign a professional baseball contract when he agreed to terms with the Colorado Rockies.
He has reported to Pasco, Wash., where he is scheduled to make his pro debut tonight with the Tri-City Dust Devils, a Class A Short-Season affiliate of the Rockies. Two of Colorado”s top seven picks will start their careers with Shepherd.
Last month marked the third time Shepherd, the son of former Major Leaguer Ron Shepherd, was drafted. He also was drafted in 2008 and 2009.
Shepherd started his last two seasons in the MSU outfield, compiling a .272 career batting average with 81 hits, 63 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in 105 games. He hit .289 as a senior and was among seven Bulldogs named to the NCAA Atlanta Regional”s all-tournament team.
Former teammates already signed this summer include: pitcher Devin Jones (ninth round, Baltimore), infielder Jarrod Parks (24th round, Los Angeles Angels), and infielder Nick Vickerson (20th round, Colorado). Shortstop Jonathan Ogden and catcher Wes Thigpen signed free-agent deals with the Detroit Tigers.
Those players had integral roles in helping MSU finish the season 15th in the final USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 baseball coaches” poll, which was released Wednesday. The season-ending ranking is the highest for the Bulldogs since 2007.
MSU secured the ranking thanks to a sweep through the NCAA Atlanta Regional before falling to the University of Florida, which lost to defending national champion South Carolina in the College World Series on Tuesday.
MSU, South Carolina, Florida, and Vanderbilt went 18-0 against non-Southeastern Conference teams in the NCAA tournament.
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