STARKVILLE — If the Bulldogs head into next season with rising seniors Devin Jones and Nick Routt, their pitching staff will be the most experienced its been under coach John Cohen.
Both pitchers were taken in the 2011 MLB draft last week, with Jones going in the ninth round to the Baltimore Orioles.
Knowing the likelihood of a player selected in the first 10 rounds of leaving is high, Cohen sounded certain Jones would sign with Orioles.
“We”re gonna lose Devin, and that”s a loss,” Cohen said.
But when asked to clarify on Jones” future with the team, Cohen said he he”d talked to Jones but a decision hadn”t been made.
“We had a great discussion yesterday, and Devin enjoys being part of our program at Mississippi State,” Cohen said. “But it depends on his personal financial situation. We”ll just wait to see how it happens.”
Jones (2-5, 4.37 ERA) started eight of his 19 appearances this season and pitched the third most innings this season. He lost his job as the Friday starter in the weekend rotation midway through the season but has been viewed by Cohen as the most physically gifted pitcher on MSU”s roster.
Routt (3-3, 3.86) made his long-anticipated comeback from elbow surgery this season and reclaimed a spot in the weekend rotation.
And though Routt wasn”t drafted last week, the left-hander could impress enough in the Cape Cod League this summer to earn a pro deal.
The Bulldogs also will keep a close eye on a pair of highly-touted signees.
Right-handed pitcher Brandon Woodruff of Wheeler (Miss.) High School was selected in the fifth round by the Texas Rangers while left-handed pitcher Jacob Lindgren of St. Stanislaus High School in Bay Saint Louis, Miss., was a 12th-round pick of the Chicago Cubs.
“We talk to those guys often,” Cohen said, “and you just don”t know. I think so much is happening behind closed doors. Another thing is, who are [teams] signing in front of your guys? How much do they have in their budget?”
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