A Mississippi State fan favorite is continuing his journey to the MLB but with a new team.
Jake Mangum, considered one of the best Bulldogs of all time, was traded from the Miami Marlins to the Tampa Bay Rays, first reported Friday. The outfielder was the player to be named later (PTBNL), in a deal last month that sent utility player Vidal Bruján and right-handed pitcher Calvin Flaucher to the Marlins. In return, the Rays received infielder Erick Lara, right-hander Andrew Lindsey, and now Mangum.
Excited for the opportunity with the @RaysBaseball organization.
I’ll give it all I got.
— Jake Mangum (@jakemangum15) December 8, 2023
“Excited for the opportunity with the [Tampa Bay Rays] organization,” Mangum wrote on X. “I’ll give it all I got.”
Although Mangum has yet to make his big-league debut, the 27-year-old has put up solid numbers across his time with both the Marlins and New York Mets organizations after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft.
In four seasons in the minor league ranks, Mangum has hit .289 in 1280 at-bats with 18 home runs and 152 RBIs. In 2023 with Triple-A Jacksonville, he batted .296 with 52 RBI over 515 plate appearances. Also considered a plus defender and baserunner, Mangum has 61 career stolen bases and just three errors.
Mangum finished his collegiate career as the SEC’s all-time hit king with 383 hits, good enough for No. 4 in NCAA history. He was the first Bulldog to be chosen in three different draft cycles.
