STARKVILLE — John Holland might have played himself into the lineup this past week.
The Mississippi State baseball senior second baseman saw little playing time early in the season due to a nagging back injury, but he started three games this past week and made the most of it.
In four games against Mississippi Valley State and Georgia, Holland went 5-for-10 with three RBIs and and 10 assists defensively, giving MSU coach John Cohen a lot to think about when filling out his lineup card moving forward.
“I think he’s just getting back into real baseball shape where he can kind of make the plays he made (Friday night) and contribute offensively,” Cohen said. “A hundred percent John Holland, there’s no question he’s going to help our ball club.”
Holland and No. 5 MSU (17-7-1) play Southern Mississippi (19-6), who swept UTSA over the weekend, 6:30 p.m. today in Trustmark Park in Pearl. MSU will throw freshman left-handed pitcher Konnor Pilkington (1-0, 0.75 ERA), while USM will throw junior right-hander Mason Walley (1-1, 4.26)
Holland, who started 46 games last season, battled a hand injury that carried over from summer ball into the fall. Cohen said the back issue made it hard for him to move this spring.
Sophomore Ryan Gridley has drawn 15 starts at second and Holland doesn’t necessarily believe he played himself into a starting position because of the way Gridley, who is batting .300 with 12 RBIs, has played early on.
“I think it’s a puzzle piece,” Holland said. “We’ve got so many options that if we can be on our best when the name’s called, it really doesn’t matter what the name is.”
Against Mississippi Valley State Tuesday, Holland went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and four defensive assists. He didn’t start in the Georgia opener but was 1-for-1 as a pinch hitter. He started the final two Georgia games and broke up Friday night’s no-hitter with an infield single in the seventh inning.
But it was Holland’s defense that really shined Friday with nine assists. Junior right-handed pitcher Austin Sexton started for MSU and his changeup caused many of Georgia’s left-handers to be out in front and roll the ball over to Holland. Cohen called the performance a “personal highlight reel.” Holland said when Sexton pitches it’s one of his favorite days.
The most impressive play caused Holland to go to his left in shallow right field and throw from his butt to record an out. Georgia’s Trevor Kieboom hit one between Holland and Nathaniel Lowe at first base, but Holland dove, swiveled from the seat of his pants and threw to Lowe at first to get Kieboom before he reached the base.
“He’s good,” Lowe said. “He’s the best defender in the SEC. He’ll joke and tell you he’s an all-team ninth inning replacement because he hasn’t been starting much, but he’s good with the glove.”
Holland is batting .304 with three RBIs, but in the last nine games, Holland is .455 with five runs and three RBIs.
The St. Johns Creek, Georgia, native said he was 100 percent on opening day and the back issue is something he has dealt with for a while, so he knew he just needed to get his feet under him.
But watching his team play in the first month couldn’t have been easy, but Cohen said Holland handed it with maturity.
“Phenomenal, phenomenal,” Cohen said. “He’s a senior and a leader, cheering for everybody, doing what he can and trying to steal pitches in our dugout. He was just locked in on trying to help our team win baseball games.”
Holland began his career at Florida State and appeared in 41 games as a freshman in 2012, but missed the 2013 season due to injury. He then transferred to Chattahooche Valley (Alabama) Community College where he led his team to the 2014 National Junior College Athletic Association World Series in Junction, Colorado. He hit .406 with 82 hits, 70 runs, 38 RBIs and four home runs.
“He’s a veteran,” junior Jacob Robson said. “This is his third school, so he’s been around different programs, he knows how they do things. He’s a grinder too. A lot of those JUCO guys usually can deal with adversity well and I think he’s done a great job of that. He’s just in there every day working hard in practice. It’s paying off for him. He’s waited his turn.”
Along with Holland and Gridley drawing starts at second, junior Gavin Collins and freshman Hunter Stovall have also seen time at the position. MSU has depth at every position and now Holland is pushing to take over second base.
“I was just ready for my chance and I’m ready to go every day,” Holland said.
n In other baseball news, after going 3-1 last week, MSU moved up in all six polls.
The Bulldogs are ranked in the top 10 by Baseball America (5) and Collegiate Baseball (7).
MSU is No. 11 in both D1Baseball.com and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll. MSU is No. 12 in the USA Today Coaches poll and the Perfect Game poll.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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