STARKVILLE – As the the spring semester hits its stride and individual workouts begin at Dudy Noble Field, the national pundits of college baseball have started to roll out the preseason rankings and accolades in front of the anticipated return of college baseball. The 2021 Preseason Central page will be a one-stop shop for coverage of the Diamond Dawgs heading into the program’s 131st season.
National Rankings
Currently, Mississippi State has received a top 15 national ranking from each of the preseason polls, as Collegiate Baseball Newspaper tabbed the Maroon and White as the No. 9 team entering the 2021 season on Dec. 21. Perfect Game followed with the first rankings of the new year and pegged the Diamond Dawgs and the No. 12 team in the land, while D1Baseball has MSU at No. 7.
Complete preseason rankings include: (click on the publication for full rankings)
Baseball America
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper – No. 9
D1Baseball – No. 7
National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
Perfect Game – No. 12
USA Today
Individual Honors Will Bednar, RHPA Freshman All-American following the 2020 season, Bednar appeared in four games with one start in his first collegiate season. The right-hander struck out five-or-more batters in three of four outings and finished No. 4 among SEC freshmen pitchers in strikeouts (23). He tied for second on the team in saves (1) and strikeouts.
Baseball America Breakout Candidate (No. 13)
Baseball America Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 59)
MLB Pipeline Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 41)
D1Baseball Top 100 Collegiate MLB Draft Prospects (No. 20)
Eric Cerantola, RHPA starter and reliever during his time on campus, Cerantola served as the Dawgs Sunday starter during the 202 campaign. A 30th round of the 2018 MLB First Year Player Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, the right-hander ranked second on the team among qualifying starting pitchers in ERA (3.18) in 2020. In his career, he has appeared in 15 games with eight starts and owns a 4-1 record with 43 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings of work.
Baseball America Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 34)
MLB Pipeline Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 50)
D1Baseball Top 100 Collegiate MLB Draft Prospects (No. 28)
Scotty Dubrule, IFAfter spending four seasons at Jacksonville and setting the programs career hits record (249), Dubrule brings his talents to the SEC and looks to continue to add to an impressive collegiate career. Entering the 2021 season, the left-handed hitter has started 194 of 197 career games. A two-time All-Atlantic Sun Conference selection currently sits among the active career leaders in his (2nd; 249), at-bats (2nd; 770), games played (3rd; 197) and runs scored (15th; 138).
Baseball America Top 25 New Addition (No. 23)
Kamren James, IFFollowing in the footsteps of his father, Greg (football), and brother, Keegan (baseball), James is the third member of his family to wear the maroon and white and will make the move from third base to shortstop for the 2021 season. He appeared in 15 games with 14 starts in 2020 and logged at least one hit in 12 of 15 games played. James was one of seven SEC freshmen to end the season with a .300 batting average and ranked inside the top 10 among SEC freshmen in six offensive categories.
D1Baseball Top 100 Collegiate MLB Draft Prospects (No. 49)
Christian MacLeod, LHPThe 2020 Co-National Freshman of the Year per Collegiate Baseball Magazine, MacLeod won each of his first three collegiate starts before the season ended in 2020. The first Mississippi State freshman to earn an All-America nod since Jake Mangum in 2016, he was the only Power 5 freshman to register four-or-more victories on the season and tied for the most strikeouts (35) among Power 5 freshmen in 2020. MacLeod also ranked among the top 50 nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (25th; 3.86), WHIP (32nd; 0.71) and ERA (41st; 0.86).
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-America (second team)
Perfect Game Preseason All-America (third team)
Baseball America Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 23)
MLB Pipeline Top 100 MLB Draft Prospect (No. 40)
D1Baseball Top 100 Collegiate MLB Draft Prospects (No. 26)