Mississippi State Rebuilds Lineup Under O'Connor
Mississippi State baseball wrapped its fall season with six starting position players to replace from last year's super regional team.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Baseball
Mississippi State baseball concluded its fall season after exhibitions against Auburn, Western Kentucky, and Little Rock and several intrasquad scrimmages at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville. Coach Brian O'Connor, in his second year, is working to replace six starting position players from a team that reached a super regional last season.
Why it matters
The turnover tests whether the program can maintain its competitive level while integrating several transfers into the lineup. Returning pitching depth provides a foundation as the staff prepares for the coming season.
Six starting position players from last season's Mississippi State lineup have departed, while all three weekend pitching starters are returning. The exhibition and scrimmage results from the fall season have not been fully tallied into performance metrics for the incoming players.
The players
Brian O'Connor
O'Connor is the head baseball coach at Mississippi State, entering his second season leading the program after building teams that have reached postseason play.
Nolan Grawe
Grawe is a transfer from South Dakota State who earned All-Summit League first-team honors last season.
The details
Mississippi State baseball's fall slate included exhibitions against Auburn, Western Kentucky, and Little Rock along with numerous intrasquad scrimmages at Dudy Noble Field. Transfers Burke-Lee Mabeus from Oregon, Josiah Overbeek from Army, Will Craddock from South Carolina, and Nolan Grawe from South Dakota State are expected to contribute.
Timeline
• January 2027: Preseason practice begins for Mississippi State baseball.
• February 19, 2027: Mississippi State opens the season against Stony Brook.
Season Trajectory
Mississippi State's roster turnover reflects how transfer portal access has allowed college baseball programs to replace large portions of a starting lineup within one offseason. The program's ability to keep its three weekend starters positions it to contend despite the position-player overhaul.
Fans tracking fantasy or betting markets should note that Burke-Lee Mabeus appears positioned as the starting catcher, while the three returning weekend starters anchor the rotation. Roster spots at several positions remain open until the preseason competition concludes.
The takeaway
Teams replacing a large share of their lineup can lean on returning pitching depth to hold steady through a transition year. Watching how transfers adjust during the early preseason workouts offers a clear signal of where the lineup will settle.
What happens next
Preseason practice begins in January 2027, and Mississippi State opens its season against Stony Brook on February 19, 2027.
Further reading
For more on the team's season outlook, see Starkville Baseball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Clarion-Ledger.
