The University of Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Wraps Up Successful Fall Season
12/10/2019 | Baseball
Familiar Faces Lead the Way for the 2020 Rebels
The 2020 Ole Miss Rebels will be chock-full of new faces, including 21 first-year players comprising the nation's No. 2 recruiting class, but it was the familiar veterans who stole the show throughout the fall in Oxford.
"We've really challenged some of our older guys to be leaders," head coach Mike Bianco said. "So much has been said about this No. 2 ranked recruiting class, and they're certainly deserving of the ranking, but I think the success is in the faces of the program—the Doug Nikhazy's, the Gunnar Hoglund's, the Tyler Keenan's, Anthony Servideo's, and Kevin Graham's. We return a pretty good crew."
The Rebels just recently wrapped up the 2019 fall season, which included nine intrasquad scrimmages and a pair of matchups against Arkansas State and Memphis.
Contrary to this time last year, few questions remain about the state of the Rebels' weekend arms for the upcoming season. Ole Miss returns sophomores Doug Nikhazy and Gunnar Hoglund, both of whom finished the fall with top-five ERA's and are poised to take the SEC by storm with a formidable one-two punch on Fridays and Saturdays.
"What a difference a year makes," Bianco said. "We didn't return any starters from the year before, and we really penciled in Will Ethridge at this time last year to be the Friday night starter. Other than that, our biggest question was 'Who is going to be our weekend starters?' Doug's name was rarely mentioned at this time last year."
Beyond the two returning aces, the competition for a starting spot in a crowded Rebels' bullpen remains anyone's game, but a strong fall out of freshman Derek Diamond has the California native in good standing as the season quickly approaches. Diamond led all freshmen with a 1.65 ERA in 16.1 IP and showcased an elite arsenal throughout the offseason.
"If we start today, he's the number three starter," Bianco said. "He's really got some electric stuff. Certainly after this fall, he's made his mark, and you know he's going to be a huge contributor on the mound for us."
The award for best pitcher of the offseason, however, went to senior Taylor Broadway in his second year with the Rebels. Broadway was used sparingly in 2019, but displayed quite the turnaround this fall with a 0.00 ERA in seven appearances. He didn't walk a single batter, and allowed just five runners to reach base all offseason.
"I think it would be easy to say that he had the best fall of all the pitchers, and that's saying a lot, because we pitched the ball really well this fall," Bianco said.
Another one of Bianco's few seniors, Greer Holston, whose struggles were well-known a season ago, made the strides necessary to re-enter the conversation for a strong role in the Rebels' pitching staff with a promising performance on the mound this fall. Holston is the only four-year Rebel on the roster, and has likewise emerged as one of the dominant leaders in the clubhouse.
"Really proud of (Greer)," Bianco said. "He was a big part of the staff as a freshman and a sophomore, and last year was a struggle for him. The stuff is as good as I've ever seen him throw. He's been up to 95 several times. His average fastball was harder than any pitcher on the staff. His breaking ball command has been excellent. He's just been really dominant."
Ole Miss also returns several key veteran leaders in the bullpen, including Tyler Myers and Austin Miller, who set the school record for most appearances in a single season last year (32).
At the plate, the Rebels relied on the experience of juniors Tyler Keenan and Anthony Servideo, a pair of returning starters that have been mainstays in the Ole Miss lineup for the past two years.
Keenan led the team this fall with a .396 batting average and three home runs, while Servideo capped his offseason with a .328 mark. Whereas question marks remain all around the diamond, the left side of the infield is virtually locked in three months out from the first game of the year.
"Servideo finally gets his chance to play shortstop," Bianco said. "We've said it for years, if he was at any other school in the SEC, he would have already been a shortstop for two years. Fortunately for us, however, we've had Grae Kessinger. And as great as Grae was, I think people are going to love Anthony's athleticism. We're not going to miss a beat at shortstop."
Elsewhere in the infield, Peyton Chatagnier turned heads all fall with a .364 batting average that led all freshmen. The young Rebel has put himself in good position to compete with sophomore Justin Bench at second base, but either player could be utilized anywhere Bianco sees fit.
"If you asked what freshman had the best fall, it would be a unanimous choice for Peyton," Bianco said. "Since he's stepped on the field, he's brought a different level of energy, a different level of confidence than other guys do in their first months on campus."
Another freshman who impressed the coaching staff this offseason was Cade Sammons out of Jackson, Tennessee. Sammons quietly worked up a .347 average at the plate and led the team with 12 stolen bases.
"He's a true center fielder," Bianco said. "He's a defender, and he's a runner. This guy could steal 20 or 30 bases in a season. Cade will see a lot of action early."
Junior-college transfer Ben Van Cleve provided the Rebels' with some power from the right side of the plate this fall, hitting .377 with three long balls. He has thrust himself into the first base or DH conversation, along with Tim Elko, Kevin Graham, and Cael Baker.
The Rebels also presume to continue the trend of excellence at the catcher position. Ole Miss returns sophomore Knox Loposer, who started 12 games a season ago, but also welcomes freshman Hayden Dunhurst to the mix, who made life difficult for would-be base stealers behind the plate all fall.
"Hayden had a really good fall defensively," Bianco said. "Offensively, he had a better fall than his statistical numbers show. Knox, obviously, is the returner and a guy who last year got a few opportunities. We feel really comfortable at the catcher position, and it's definitely still a competition."
Bianco still has a pair of players yet to see the diamond, freshmen outfielders John Rhys Plumlee and Jerrion Ealy who were preoccupied with other matters on the gridiron this fall, but will join the rest of the roster come January 15 when the team reports for the spring semester.
Plumlee, Ealy, and the rest of the Rebels will have about a month to make their mark before Ole Miss welcomes the Louisville Cardinals to town for the first weekend series of the 2020 season on February 14.
"We've really challenged some of our older guys to be leaders," head coach Mike Bianco said. "So much has been said about this No. 2 ranked recruiting class, and they're certainly deserving of the ranking, but I think the success is in the faces of the program—the Doug Nikhazy's, the Gunnar Hoglund's, the Tyler Keenan's, Anthony Servideo's, and Kevin Graham's. We return a pretty good crew."
The Rebels just recently wrapped up the 2019 fall season, which included nine intrasquad scrimmages and a pair of matchups against Arkansas State and Memphis.
Contrary to this time last year, few questions remain about the state of the Rebels' weekend arms for the upcoming season. Ole Miss returns sophomores Doug Nikhazy and Gunnar Hoglund, both of whom finished the fall with top-five ERA's and are poised to take the SEC by storm with a formidable one-two punch on Fridays and Saturdays.
"What a difference a year makes," Bianco said. "We didn't return any starters from the year before, and we really penciled in Will Ethridge at this time last year to be the Friday night starter. Other than that, our biggest question was 'Who is going to be our weekend starters?' Doug's name was rarely mentioned at this time last year."
Beyond the two returning aces, the competition for a starting spot in a crowded Rebels' bullpen remains anyone's game, but a strong fall out of freshman Derek Diamond has the California native in good standing as the season quickly approaches. Diamond led all freshmen with a 1.65 ERA in 16.1 IP and showcased an elite arsenal throughout the offseason.
"If we start today, he's the number three starter," Bianco said. "He's really got some electric stuff. Certainly after this fall, he's made his mark, and you know he's going to be a huge contributor on the mound for us."
The award for best pitcher of the offseason, however, went to senior Taylor Broadway in his second year with the Rebels. Broadway was used sparingly in 2019, but displayed quite the turnaround this fall with a 0.00 ERA in seven appearances. He didn't walk a single batter, and allowed just five runners to reach base all offseason.
"I think it would be easy to say that he had the best fall of all the pitchers, and that's saying a lot, because we pitched the ball really well this fall," Bianco said.
Another one of Bianco's few seniors, Greer Holston, whose struggles were well-known a season ago, made the strides necessary to re-enter the conversation for a strong role in the Rebels' pitching staff with a promising performance on the mound this fall. Holston is the only four-year Rebel on the roster, and has likewise emerged as one of the dominant leaders in the clubhouse.
"Really proud of (Greer)," Bianco said. "He was a big part of the staff as a freshman and a sophomore, and last year was a struggle for him. The stuff is as good as I've ever seen him throw. He's been up to 95 several times. His average fastball was harder than any pitcher on the staff. His breaking ball command has been excellent. He's just been really dominant."
Ole Miss also returns several key veteran leaders in the bullpen, including Tyler Myers and Austin Miller, who set the school record for most appearances in a single season last year (32).
At the plate, the Rebels relied on the experience of juniors Tyler Keenan and Anthony Servideo, a pair of returning starters that have been mainstays in the Ole Miss lineup for the past two years.
Keenan led the team this fall with a .396 batting average and three home runs, while Servideo capped his offseason with a .328 mark. Whereas question marks remain all around the diamond, the left side of the infield is virtually locked in three months out from the first game of the year.
"Servideo finally gets his chance to play shortstop," Bianco said. "We've said it for years, if he was at any other school in the SEC, he would have already been a shortstop for two years. Fortunately for us, however, we've had Grae Kessinger. And as great as Grae was, I think people are going to love Anthony's athleticism. We're not going to miss a beat at shortstop."
Elsewhere in the infield, Peyton Chatagnier turned heads all fall with a .364 batting average that led all freshmen. The young Rebel has put himself in good position to compete with sophomore Justin Bench at second base, but either player could be utilized anywhere Bianco sees fit.
"If you asked what freshman had the best fall, it would be a unanimous choice for Peyton," Bianco said. "Since he's stepped on the field, he's brought a different level of energy, a different level of confidence than other guys do in their first months on campus."
Another freshman who impressed the coaching staff this offseason was Cade Sammons out of Jackson, Tennessee. Sammons quietly worked up a .347 average at the plate and led the team with 12 stolen bases.
"He's a true center fielder," Bianco said. "He's a defender, and he's a runner. This guy could steal 20 or 30 bases in a season. Cade will see a lot of action early."
Junior-college transfer Ben Van Cleve provided the Rebels' with some power from the right side of the plate this fall, hitting .377 with three long balls. He has thrust himself into the first base or DH conversation, along with Tim Elko, Kevin Graham, and Cael Baker.
The Rebels also presume to continue the trend of excellence at the catcher position. Ole Miss returns sophomore Knox Loposer, who started 12 games a season ago, but also welcomes freshman Hayden Dunhurst to the mix, who made life difficult for would-be base stealers behind the plate all fall.
"Hayden had a really good fall defensively," Bianco said. "Offensively, he had a better fall than his statistical numbers show. Knox, obviously, is the returner and a guy who last year got a few opportunities. We feel really comfortable at the catcher position, and it's definitely still a competition."
Bianco still has a pair of players yet to see the diamond, freshmen outfielders John Rhys Plumlee and Jerrion Ealy who were preoccupied with other matters on the gridiron this fall, but will join the rest of the roster come January 15 when the team reports for the spring semester.
Plumlee, Ealy, and the rest of the Rebels will have about a month to make their mark before Ole Miss welcomes the Louisville Cardinals to town for the first weekend series of the 2020 season on February 14.
Players Mentioned
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