5. MISSISSIPPI

2008 RECORD. Overall: 39-26 (Advanced to NCAA regional). Conference: 15-15 / 3^rd in SEC (West).

Coach: Mike Bianco (321-182, 8^th season).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs. Liberty (Coca-Cola Classic at Mobile, Ala. ).

 

OVERVIEW: Even with the loss of RHPs Lance Lynn and Cody Satterwhite, two of the first 67 picks in the 2008 draft, pitching will again be a strong suit for Ole Miss. The Rebels became the unexpected beneficiary when closer Scott Bittle, who posted possibly the most eye-popping numbers of all pitchers in the college ranks a year ago, went unsigned in the second round. The loss of Lynn and Satterwhite from the rotation will largely be offset by top junior-college transfers, notably RHP Aaron Barrett, and the continued improvement of sophomore LHP Drew Pomeranz, one of the top arms in the country. The Rebels’ everyday lineup is just as deep, and there may not be a college team in the country that will produce more draft picks in June. The upshot of it all is it could lead to the Rebels first College World Series appearances since 1972.

 

PROJECTED 2009 STARTING LINEUP

C: Brett Basham, Sr. (.261-2-29).

1B: Matt Smith (4), So. (.283-14-40).

2B: Zach Miller, Jr. (.280-1-22).

3B: Tim Ferguson, So. (.289-3-23).

SS: Evan Button, Jr. (.293-1-8).

LF: Logan Power (3), Sr. (.329-9-51).

CF: Jordan Henry (1), Jr. (.292-1-24, *14 SB).

RF: Michael Hubbard, Sr. (.276-1-10).

DH: Matt Snyder, Fr., (HS—Centreville, Va.).

1/Starter: Drew Pomeranz, So. (4-3, 4.16; 71 IP/81 SO).

2/Starter: Aaron Barrett, Jr. (9-2, 2.90 at Wabash Valley, Ill. , JC; Twins/20^th round).

3/Starter: Phillip Irwin, Jr. (2-1, 5.40, 33 IP/31 SO).

Closer: Scott Bittle, Sr. (*7-1, 1.78, *8 SV, 71 IP/35 H/*130 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Tim Ferguson.

Best Overall Hitter: Jordan Henry.

Best Power Hitter: Matt Smith.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Jordan Henry.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Jordan Henry (6.5 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Jordan Henry/Logan Power.

Best Defender: Kevin Mort/Jordan Henry.

Best Infield Arm: Evan Button.

Best Outfield Arm: Logan Power.

Best Fastball (velocity): Drew Pomeranz/Aaron Barrett (94 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Scott Bittle.

Best Changeup: Rory McKean.

Best Command: Kyle Barbeck.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Matt Snyder, 1b. The younger brother of Brandon Snyder, the 13^th overall pick in the 2005 draft, the 6-foot-6, lefthanded-hitting Snyder has significant upside at the plate with good raw power potential. Matt’s twin brother Michael, a righthanded hitter, also is a corner infielder for the Rebels. Their father Brian, a lefthanded pitcher, played 12 years of professional baseball, including two brief stints in the big leagues.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Drew Pomeranz, lhp. Pomeranz, a 12^th-round pick of the Texas Rangersin 2007, showed flashes of his considerable upside as a freshman. A big, physical lefthander, he’s on track to be a first-rounder in 2010 with a fastball that sits in the 90-94 mph range and a dynamite breaking ball.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Jordan Henry, of: With his 6.5-second speed and ability to spray the ball to all fields, Henry is a prototypical leadoff hitter and the catalyst that makes the Rebels offense click. He is also a solid defender in center field and should be a candidate for the top three rounds of this year’s draft.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Scott Bittle, rhp. With nine-inning averages of 4.4 hits allowed and 16.5 strikeouts, Bittle was dominant as a closer in 2008. But he went unsigned in the draft after the Yankees weren’t comfortable with the medical reports on his shoulder. Bittle has a dominant cut fastball to accompany a more conventional, low-90s four-seamer, and is unlike most cloers in that he can work several innings at at time.

--JEFF SIMPSON