Mississippi State Turns to Young Pitchers for 2026 Season

Diamond Dogs look to new faces to fill out starting rotation after losing top arms to MLB

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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As Mississippi State baseball prepares to open the 2026 season, the team will be relying heavily on a crop of young and inexperienced pitchers to fill out their starting rotation. All three of the Diamond Dogs' weekend starters from the 2025 season have departed for professional baseball, leaving just a handful of returning pitching starts on the roster.

Why it matters

Mississippi State has been a consistent contender in the SEC, making the NCAA Tournament in 9 of the last 10 seasons. However, the loss of their top pitchers could pose a significant challenge as they look to maintain that level of success. The development of these young arms will be crucial to the team's fortunes in 2026.

The details

With limited opportunities to evaluate the team during spring training, the specifics of Mississippi State's 2026 pitching rotation remain unclear. However, the coaching staff will likely turn to a mix of unproven underclassmen and transfer portal signees to fill the void left by the departed starters.

  • The 2026 Mississippi State baseball season opens this Friday, February 9th, with a three-game series against Hofstra.

The players

Mississippi State Baseball

The baseball program at Mississippi State University, which has been a consistent contender in the Southeastern Conference over the past decade.

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The takeaway

Mississippi State's ability to develop their young pitching staff will be crucial to the team's chances of maintaining their recent success and contending for a spot in the NCAA Tournament in 2026.