Rebel Baseball Adds Four More Signees

Nov. 15, 2000

OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss has signed right-handed pitcher Kyle Bateman, of Flagstaff, Ariz., outfielder Bryce Morrison, of Austin, Texas, right-handed pitcher J.R. Pickens, of Liberty, Texas., and third baseman Jon Rodgriguez, of Plantation, Fla., to national letters of intent to play baseball, head coach Mike Bianco announced Wednesday. All four will be eligible in the 2001-2002 academic year.

The Rebels have now signed eight players during the early fall signing period.

Bateman, 6-feet-3, 200 pounds, was 2-0 with one save and a 2.90 ERA in 14 appearances last season to help Central Arizona Community College to a regional championship. He played high school baseball at Conconino High School in Flagstaff, Ariz., where he posted a 10-3 record his senior year with a 2.40 ERA and struck out 130 in 92 IP. Bateman was a late-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Dodgers in both the 1999 and 2000 Major League Baseball Drafts.

"Kyle is a very talented junior college pitcher that has the potential to be an outstanding pitcher in the Southeastern Conference," Bianco said.

Morrison, 6-feet-5, 235 pounds, batted .330 with four HRs and 45 RBI last season as a freshman for Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. As a senior at Leander High School, Morrison hit .359 with five HRs and 24 RBI, and was a late-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft.

"Bryce is a very big outfielder but also very athletic," Bianco said. "He is one that I feel will fit perfectly into our offensive system."

Pickens, 6-feet-1, 210 pounds, registered a 9-4 mark with three saves and a 3.80 ERA in 16 appearances this past spring at Blinn Community College in Brenham, Texas. In a four-year high school career at Liberty High School, Pickens was a three-time All-State selection, recording a 51-12 ledger with a 1.20 ERA and struck out 453 in 461 IP. During his senior year in 1999, Pickens went 18-2 with a 1.10 ERA and fanned 241 in 135 IP to earn the Class 3A Player of the Year Award.

"J.R. comes from an outstanding junior college program," Bianco said. "He's a great competitor and we see him as someone who will be in our weekend rotation."

Rodgriguez, 6-feet-4, 210 pounds, hit .506 in 33 games last season as a high school junior at Westminster Academy. He also had seven HRs and 35 RBI to earn All-County honors from the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald.

"Jon is a very physical third baseman for a high school player," Bianco said. "He's a player that we're very excited about. He has the potential to be a very good power hitter in the SEC."

Bianco was hired as the Rebels' new head baseball coach on June 7 after spending the past three seasons as the head coach of McNeese State. Bianco was 100-71 in his three seasons at McNeese State and guided the Cowboys to an appearance in the 2000 NCAA Regionals.

Ole Miss finished 30-25 last season to record its third straight 30-win season.

2000 OLE MISS FALL SIGNEES

Player	POS.	HT	WT	HOMETOWN/SCHOOL
Kyle Bateman	RHP	6-3	200	Flagstaff, Ariz./Central Arizona C.C.
Josh Gran	RHP/1B	6-7	215	Hattiesburg, Miss./Hattiesburg H.S.
Alan Horne	RHP/1B	6-4	175	Marianna, Fla./Marianna H.S.
Bryce Morrison	OF	6-5	235	Austin, Texas/Tyler (TX) J.C.
J.R. Pickens	RHP	6-1	210	Liberty, Texas/Blinn (TX) C.C.
Billy Porter	C	5-10	175	Hattiesburg, Miss./Hattiesburg H.S.
Jon Rodriguez	INF	6-4	210	Plantation, Fla./Westminster Academy
Bobby Wilson	C	6-1	215	Seminole, Fla./Seminole H.S.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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