Minor League Spotlight
As the 2026 season approaches its final stretch, former Ole Miss baseball players are proving that the Rebel legacy extends well beyond college diamonds, with many still competing in both the major and minor leagues.
Nick Fortes, still behind the plate for the Tampa Bay Rays, is batting .281 with an OPS of .711, showing a blend of contact and power that keeps him in the lineup, while Cooper Johnson, catching for the Round Rock Express, is posting a .206 average.
Tim Elko, after completing a rehab stint, has returned to the Charlotte Knights, and Kemp Alderman has been a steady presence for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, already hitting 15 home runs by August.
Pitching Performances
On the mound, Ryan Rolison of the Chicago Cubs sits at 5‑1 with a 2.66 ERA, while Drew McDaniel endures a tough stretch at 2‑6 for the Winston‑Salem Dash; Jacob Waguespack, now with the Detroit Tigers after a trade, continues to shuttle between MLB and the minors, and Dylan DeLucia has been a strikeout machine for the Akron RubberDucks.
Xavier Rivas holds a 6‑4 record with a WHIP of 1.13 for the Somerset Patriots, and Derek Diamond is unbeaten at 7‑0 with the Indianapolis Indians; Josh Mallitz sits at 4‑0 with a WHIP of 1.08 for the San Antonio Missions.
Gunnar Hoglund remains sidelined as he recovers from surgery, and James McArthur is currently on the Royals’ 60‑day injured list dealing with elbow issues, while Riley Maddox has returned to the Wilmington Blue Rocks after a brief promotion.
Jacob Gonzalez was moved to the Pittsburgh Pirates in July, Mason Nichols earned a promotion to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, and Will McCausland emerged with the Lake County Captains after a stint in Hill City.