Mississippi State Baseball Looks to Rebuild and Compete in 2027
The Bulldogs are banking on a strong returning core, fresh talent, and a revamped pitching development program to rebound after a draft‑driven exodus.
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The Bulldogs are banking on a strong returning core, fresh talent, and a revamped pitching development program to rebound after a draft‑driven exodus.
Mississippi State's 2027 baseball roster is set after the draft signing deadline, featuring three returning weekend starters, a handful of established position players and a wave of 13 transfers seeking roles in a competitive fall camp.
Mississippi State University announced five transfer portal signees who will shape its 2027 baseball roster, bringing experience and depth while the MLB draft casts a shadow over potential departures.

Will Craddock, a sophomore infielder, transfers to Mississippi State after hitting .260 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs for the Gamecocks, joining Josiah Overbeek and Brady Christman as new Bulldogs.

Will Craddock, a standout infielder from South Carolina, has transferred to Mississippi State, joining a promising group of newcomers.
Coach Kevin Schnall has added 19 transfer players while 24 have left the Gamecocks, targeting key talent from Coastal Carolina, Wake Forest and beyond as the portal nears its June 30 close.
Transfer infielder Will Craddock arrives from the University of South Carolina, bringing a .260 average, 10 home runs and 36 runs from his freshman season, and joins a roster reshaped by multiple transfers.

New head coach Kevin Schnall is building a competitive roster for the SEC, with encouraging developments around Will Craddock, Amp Phillips and transfer Connor Shouse.
Mississippi State is reshaping its baseball roster for 2027 by leveraging the transfer portal, adding key position players, pitchers and a two‑way talent while navigating departures and draft eligibility.

The USC Trojans baseball program enjoyed its most successful campaign in recent memory, finishing the 2026 season with a 48‑18 record under head coach Andy Stankiewicz. The team’s surge carried them to the Chapel Hill Super Regional, where they fell just one game short of the College World Series. In the Super Regional, the Trojans dropped a 4‑3 decision to the North Carolina Tar Heels, a loss that underscored how close the squad came to a national breakthrough. Despite the narrow defeat, the performance cemented the program’s reputation as a rising force in collegiate baseball. Central to the Trojans’ offseason agenda is the pursuit of South Carolina Gamecocks infielder Will Craddock, a highly touted transfer portal prospect. Craddock posted a .260 batting average and hit 10 home runs during the 2026 campaign, traits that have attracted considerable attention from USC’s recruiting staff. Coach Stankiewicz hopes the addition of Craddock will complement the return of junior infielder Kevin Takeuchi and senior outfielder Jack Basseer, both of whom contributed significantly last season. Takeuchi finished with a .320 average, 77 hits, 65 runs and 10 homers, while Basseer provides veteran depth in the outfield. On the mound, sophomore right‑hander Grant Govel is slated to anchor the rotation. Govel posted a 2.87 ERA and struck out 99 batters while compiling a 10‑3 record in 2026, numbers that position him as a frontline ace for the 2027 rotation. The Trojans’ blend of experienced returners and targeted transfers creates a compelling narrative as they aim to translate a strong regular season into a College World Series appearance. With a solid recruiting pipeline and a pitching staff that proved its mettle last year, USC is positioning itself as a contender in the national landscape.

The USC Trojans finished the 2026 campaign with a 48‑18 record under coach Andy Stankiewicz, returning key players like Kevin Takeuchi and Grant Govel while pursuing South Carolina infielder Will Craddock for the 2027 season.

Seventeen players have entered the transfer portal, including standout first baseman Will Craddock, as South Carolina baseball confronts a roster overhaul after missing the postseason in 2025 and 2026.

A record number of players have entered the NCAA transfer portal, leaving the program with a thin roster and a daunting reconstruction project.
A cascade of transfers leaves the University of South Carolina baseball program reshaped, as the school moves to replace head coach Paul Mainieri and rebuild for the future.

A 50‑64 record and no NCAA tournament appearances have prompted the Gamecocks to consider a sweeping reset, with Coastal Carolina’s Kevin Schnall emerging as a leading candidate.

An 11-6 loss in Hoover sees Patrick Evans' multi-hit night fall short as Tennessee erupts for six runs in the third.

The Gamecocks were outscored 11-6 by the Tennessee Volunteers in the opening round of the SEC Tournament, with Patrick Evans delivering a standout performance despite the defeat.

The Gamecocks led early but Vanderbilt's fourth‑inning surge and strong pitching turned a 3‑0 deficit into a 5‑3 win, ending South Carolina's season on a bittersweet note.

Vanderbilt exploded for six runs in the opening frame and built a 7‑0 lead, but South Carolina fought back to narrow the gap before ultimately falling 9‑5 at Hawkins Field.