Ole Miss is already mapping out its 2027 baseball roster, but the plan rests on a single, pivotal question: will ace pitchers Cade Townsend, Taylor Rabe and Hunter Elliott sign with Major League Baseball after the 2026 draft or return to college for another year?
Townsend and Rabe sit among the most coveted arms in the upcoming draft, with Townsend ranked No. 27 and Rabe No. 90 by MLB.com. Both carry slot values of $3,466,500 and $887,000 respectively, making a professional contract an attractive option.
Elliott, by contrast, is unranked and was not invited to the MLB draft combine, yet he could still be drafted in later rounds. He previously opted to forgo a 2025 draft pick and return to Ole Miss, and now he faces the possibility of a sixth season via a medical redshirt if he chooses to stay.
Draft Timeline and Its Ripple Effects
Should all three depart, the Rebels will need to fill the void with a mix of returning arms and newcomers. Players such as Walker Hooks and Hudson Calhoun are being evaluated as potential starters, while Wil Libbert and Owen Kelly present options but also carry draft risk. The program has already added two transfer pitchers, Brent Stukes and Mavrick Rizy, who bring experience and recent performance metrics—a 5.65 ERA and an 8‑3 record for Stukes, and a 4.22 ERA in relief for Rizy.
The 2026 MLB Draft will take place in Philadelphia on July 11‑12, and draftees have until July 27 to announce whether they will sign or resume their college careers. The timing of those decisions will ultimately determine the composition of Ole Miss's rotation heading into the next season.