Mississippi State pitcher exits Vanderbilt game with injury

Ryan McPherson left the game after throwing just one warmup pitch before the fifth inning.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:40am

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Mississippi State baseball pitcher Ryan McPherson exited his March 20 start against Vanderbilt early with an apparent injury. McPherson threw one warmup pitch before the start of the fifth inning and then the MSU trainer and coach Brian O'Connor went to check on him. He did not slip or grab any specific body part, but was removed from the game due to the injury.

Why it matters

McPherson is a key part of the Mississippi State pitching rotation, so any injury to him could significantly impact the team's performance for the rest of the season. Vanderbilt is also a top-ranked opponent, making this an important conference matchup.

The details

After throwing just one warmup pitch before the start of the fifth inning, Mississippi State's Ryan McPherson was visited by the team trainer and coach Brian O'Connor. McPherson did not appear to slip or grab any specific body part, but was removed from the game due to the unspecified injury.

  • On March 20, 2026, Ryan McPherson exited his start against Vanderbilt in the fifth inning.

The players

Ryan McPherson

A pitcher for the Mississippi State baseball team.

Brian O'Connor

The head coach of the Mississippi State baseball team.

Vanderbilt

Mississippi State's opponent, a top-ranked college baseball program.

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What’s next

The extent of Ryan McPherson's injury is still unknown, and it will be important to monitor his status and recovery in the coming days to determine if he will be able to make his next scheduled start.

The takeaway

Injuries to key players can significantly impact a team's performance, especially against top opponents like Vanderbilt. Mississippi State will need to closely evaluate McPherson's condition and determine the best path forward to maintain their competitiveness in conference play.