STARKVILLE — Seven months removed from the start of the 2018 baseball season, Mississippi State coach Andy Cannizaro knows playing time will be up for grabs.
It will be the same situation MSU faced prior to a run that saw it finish 40-27 and advance to the NCAA tournament’s Baton Rouge Super Regional, where it lost to eventual national runner-up LSU in two games.
Before the position battles begin in the fall, MSU has to complete its roster. MSU is still awaiting a decision from signee Bryson Hutchinson, a right-handed pitcher and first baseman from Port Orange, Florida, who was drafted by the New York Mets earlier this month in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft.
Cannizaro said his decision could go either way, but beyond that, the recruiting cycle has been what the coaching staff expected.
“Everybody else that has signed (after being selected in the MLB draft), we were 100 percent anticipating losing those guys to the draft,” Cannizaro said. “We weren’t surprised or caught off guard by anybody. There are no, ‘Holy smokes, I can’t believe that guy made it to campus,’ kind of thing.”
On top of the new additions, the roster could see some changes via transfer. MSU already has lost outfielder/pitcher Brant Blaylock to Northwest Mississippi Community College and pitcher Jared Padgett to Chipola College. Padgett, who missed last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, announced his transfer Wednesday.
“There are still some things up in the air, but nothing I want to comment on at this time,” Cannizaro said. “I would anticipate getting a roster to you in the next couple of weeks.”
Cannizaro said he expects senior reliever Blake Smith, who injured his elbow two appearances into the season, to receive a medical redshirt and be back for the 2018 season. Cannizaro hasn’t received official word from the NCAA on the matter.
The Bulldogs will have key spot to fill in the infield after losing first baseman and Southeastern Conference Triple Crown winner Brent Rooker and first-team All-SEC shortstop Ryan Gridley. There also figures to be strong competition at third base after the team went through the spring without a consistent starter at that position.
Reigning second baseman Hunter Stovall could play a big role based on which position he plays.
“He played one game (at shortstop) this year and he played awesome there. He’s playing short and second in the Cape this summer,” Cannizaro said, “so it’s going to be an opportunity for one of our young infielders like Jordan Westburg, Justin Foscue, Luke Alexander. Somebody’s going to have to go win the job.”
Westburg, Foscue, and Alexander are expected to battle for the other two infield positions.
Replacing Rooker at first base won’t be easy task. Cole Gordon is the only returnee who played the position last year, so Cannizaro said junior college transfer Alex Pener will be in the mix alongside some freshmen. Pener hit .321 and slugged .577 for Scottsdale (AZ) Community College last year.
In the outfield, MSU returns Elijah MacNamee, Jake Mangum, and Hunter Vansau, but Cannizaro expects others to compete in the fall.
At catcher, MSU has to fill the on- and off-the-field void left by the departure of Josh Lovelady, who graduated and then signed with Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals. Dustin Skelton served as MSU’s backup this spring, starting 17 times and hitting .206.
MSU has incoming junior college signee Marshall Gilbert as another option at catcher.
Those catchers will be asked to manage a pitching staff that is expected to feature plenty of newcomers, one from an in-state junior college that has Cannizaro’s attention.
“Cole Marsh is a guy we’re really excited about,” he said. “I’m excited as heck about having him in the mix, putting him out there and having him compete for starter innings, middle relief innings, or late innings. He’ll answer those questions.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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