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Baseball America rankings building hype for incoming Ole Miss transfers

ByDrew Moore|
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Mike Bianco (5) watches on during introductions as Ole Miss Rebels take on Vanderbilt Commodores during the SEC baseball tournament championship game at Hoover Met in Birmingham, Ala., on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Mike Bianco (5) watches on during introductions as Ole Miss Rebels take on Vanderbilt Commodores during the SEC baseball tournament championship game at Hoover Met in Birmingham, Ala., on Sunday, May 25, 2025. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The 2025 Ole Miss baseball season was a major bounce-back year for Mike Bianco's program. The program was on the verge of completely collapsing, following the 2022 National Championship run. However, with their backs against the wall, the diamond Rebels came out swinging in 2024. They returned to the postseason for the first time in 3 years and hosted a regional, coming up just short of hosting the first Super Regional in Oxford since 2009.

Following the season, the staff got straight to work, hitting the transfer portal and attempting to retain top talent from the current roster. The results were overall solid. The Rebels brought back the heart of their order in corner infielders Judd Utermark and Will Furniss, as well as catcher Austin Fawley. They also pulled off one of the biggest coups of the offseason, with All-American ace, Hunter Elliott, returning for his Senior season.

The Rebels even escaped the MLB draft with minimal casualties. They did lose top transfer pitcher, Grant Richardson. He was expected to play a large role, but he was essentially traded for Elliott, as there was only a path to keep one. Additionally, they also lost Will McCausland, who they were hoping to bring back to anchor the bullpen.

However, two of their prized portal additions made it through the draft and have arrived in Oxford. They are Illinois State outfield, Daniel Pacella, and St. Louis University RHP, Owen Kelly. Both Pacella and Kelly were named to the top 100 transfer list that Baseball America put out last week.

Pacella was considered a major draft risk coming off his First Team All-MVC season. He put up 20 home runs, hit over .350, and slugged more than .700 points. He is a day 1 starter in either left or right field and will hit in the top 5 of the order next season for the Rebels.

Kelly is coming off a really solid Sophomore season for SLU. He made 16 starts for the Billikens and flashed a ton of promise. He was also named All-A10. Kelly will most likely be in competition with fellow transfer Will Libbert and rising Sophomore Cade Townsend for the last two starting roles behind Hunter Elliott on Fridays.

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