The 2024 MLB Draft is underway in Fort Worth, Texas, with Mississippi players set to hear their names through Tuesday.
This article will be updated, in chronological order, throughout the 20-round draft as players from Mississippi, currently playing for Mississippi colleges and universities, or committed to Mississippi schools come off the board.
Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep – Rd. 1, No. 9 overall (Pittsburgh Pirates)
While many teams feel more comfortable drafting from the college ranks, Griffin was too good of a prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates to pass up at No. 9 overall. The Gatorade National Player of the Year is easily one of the most decorated prep players in the history of the game. Griffin led the Patriots to their seventh consecutive state title, batting .559 with nine home runs and 39 RBI as a senior. He was as much a threat on the mound and on the base paths, compiling a perfect 10-0 record as a pitcher and breaking the Mississippi high school state record with 87 stolen bases. He has a decision to make, though – attend LSU as a freshman or jump straight to the professional level.
Braden Montgomery, OF, Madison Central/Texas A&M – Rd. 1, No. 12 overall (Boston Red Sox)
Although an ankle injury heading into the College World Series may have resulted in a slight fall for Montgomery, the No. 8 ranked prospect, the former Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year still managed to crack the top 12 and go to the Boston Red Sox. After transferring from Stanford to spend his junior season in College Station, Montgomery batted .322 with 27 home runs – tied for 11th most in the country. The two-way player has also shown glimpses on the mound. However, he is expected to find a role as an outfielder on the professional level. It’s worth noting that Montgomery’s camp probably had a feeling the star would hear his name called early as Montgomery was one of six players who attended the MLB Draft in person this year.
Jurrangelo Cijntje, BHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 1, No. 15 overall (Seattle Mariners)
Moving up the board based on his potential – considering he can top 95 miles per hour with both arms – the star out of Mississippi State has found a home with the Seattle Mariners. Cijntje, who steadily climbed prospect rankings over the past few weeks, cleaned up a clunky freshman campaign in Starkville by going 8-2 with a 3.67 earned run average as a sophomore. Like Montgomery, Cijtnje must have had a feeling he would be taken high in the first round as he also attended the draft in person.
Dante Nori, OF, Mississippi State commit – Rd. 1, No. 27 (Philadelphia Phillies)
An obvious surprise to those hosting the draft, Mississippi State commit Dante Nori jumped into the first round after being ranked as the No. 48 overall prospect going into Sunday. An outfielder out of Northville (Mich.), Nori will turn 20 in three months – making him older than every other prep prospect in this year’s pool – and is considered the fastest player in the draft. Scouts have also touted him for a controlled approach at the plate. Nori, who has been committed to the Bulldogs since 2021, will have to decide between going pro and returning to Starkville for the summer.
Slade Caldwell, OF, Ole Miss commit – Rd. 1, No. 29 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
It didn’t take long for another high school prospect committed to a Mississippi school to come off the board. At No. 29 overall, Ole Miss commit Slade Caldwell was selected by Arizona. Named Arkansas Player of the Year as a junior and senior, Caldwell is a controlled, contact hitter reminiscent of Jake Mangum. Like other high school players selected, Caldwell will now have to choose between college and the pros.
Khal Stephen, RHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 2, No. 59 overall (Toronto Blue Jays)
In his lone season in Starkville, Stephen obliterated expectations. He landed at Mississippi State after a solid sophomore year at Purdue in 2023, after which he collected Third Team All-Big Ten honors, and quickly became a power punch in the Bulldogs’ rotation. The 2024 First Team All-SEC hurler held a 3.28 ERA in 2024, the lowest mark on Mississippi State’s pitching staff, and notched 107 strikeouts with just 21 walks. Stephen beat expectations again, this time at the 2024 MLB Draft, after being taken 29 spots higher than his prospect ranking of 88th from MLB.com.
Nate Dohm, RHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 3, No. 82 overall (New York Mets)
Dohm comes off the board earlier than expected after being ranked as the No. 165 overall prospect. New York scouts must have felt comfortable with Dohm’s rehab process after struggling with a throwing arm injury throughout most of this past season. In 2024, Dohm appeared in eight games after initially being named the Opening Day starter for the Bulldogs. He put together a career-low 1.23 ERA with 37 punchouts and four walks through 29.1 innings of work. In 2023, Dohm led the Bulldogs with six wins and two saves.
Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State – Rd. 4, No. 116 overall (San Francisco Giants)
Another decorated Mississippian, Jordan slid down draft boards after scouts showed concerns over his strikeout numbers in college. After starting the offseason as the No. 29 overall prospect, Jordan landed with the Giants at No. 116 overall. Strikeouts aside, when Jordan does make contact, it’s generally good. As a sophomore in 2024, the Canton native hit .354 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI in 63 games. The All-American was also awarded the Ferriss Trophy, given annually to the top college player in Mississippi.
DJ Layton, OF, Southern Miss commit – Rd. 6, No. 189 overall (Baltimore Orioles)
An unranked prospect by MLB took a rather significant leap up the board by getting taken in the sixth round as the first Southern Miss commit to be selected. Layton got a bump in his projections after a nice showing at the Future Stars Series Main Event last year at Fenway Park. At a pick value of $318,300, Layton would have to turn down serious money to play for Christian Ostrander and the Golden Eagles.
Brooks Auger, RHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 6, No. 190 overall (Los Angeles Dodgers)
A strong finish in the postseason may have upped Auger’s stock as the righty was selected in the sixth round by the Dodgers. In 2024, Auger made 20 appearances with five starts, finishing with a 1-2 record and a pair of saves. His biggest game of the year came in the SEC Tournament against rival Ole Miss, where he had more strikeouts than balls called.
Conrad Cason, OF/RHP, Mississippi State commit – Rd. 8, No. 237 overall (Boston Red Sox)
The talented two-way player committed to Chris Lemonis and the Bulldogs last year but piqued the interest of MLB teams after topping 100 mph with his fastball. Given the velocity he possesses, along with a high-quality bat, it was a foregone conclusion that Cason would get picked at some point. Now, with a pick value of just under $220,000, he must decide between pro ball and the SEC.
Niko Mazza, RHP, Southern Miss – Rd. 8, No. 238 overall (San Francisco Giants)
The Madison native burst into a weekend starting role with the Golden Eagles in 2024 and carried significant weight on the hill along with Billy Oldham. A dazzling complete-game performance in the Knoxville Regional likely boosted his stock, and now, he has been called upon by the Giants to join the professional ranks. Mazza does have another year of college eligibility remaining, making it decision time for the power-pitching righty.
Jackson Ross, UT, Ole Miss – Rd. 9, No. 260 overall (San Francisco Giants)
In a single season with the Rebels after transferring from Florida Atlantic, Ross drew the fourth-most walks in program history in 2024 and was in the upper echelon of most offensive categories for Mike Bianco’s club — including leading the team in runs scored, walks, and sacrifice flies. The Florida native bounced around at several different positions in both the outfield and infield, making him an attractive, versatile addition for the Nationals.
Colby Holcombe, RHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 9, No. 277 overall (Toronto Blue Jays)
Holcombe spent one year with Mississippi State after starting his career at Northeast Mississippi Community College, along with stops at ULM and Air Force. The right-hander was an unranked prospect by MLB.com after appearing in 12 games during the 2024 season and notching a 10.38 ERA. But at 6’6″ and with an impressive arsenal of pitches, Holcombe projects as an arm that could be developed into a solid professional player.
Tyson Hardin, RHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 12, No. 365 (Milwaukee Brewers)
In his second season in Starkville after transferring from the JUCO ranks, Hardin finished third on the team with 25 appearances. He compiled a 3-3 record with a 3.22 ERA and 36 strikeouts across 36.1 innings of work. The rising senior was an unranked prospect by MLB.com.
Lucas Elissalt, RHP, Southern Miss commit – Rd. 13, No. 386 (Detroit Tigers)
The 6’4″ righty has had two stellar campaigns at Chipola College in Florida, named to the Panhandle All-Conference First Team in 2024. Elissalt is committed to Christian Ostrander and the Golden Eagles, but he’ll have to weigh his options after getting picked by the Tigers.
Connor Hujsak, CF, Mississippi State – Rd. 13, No. 396 (Tampa Bay Rays)
After starting just six games in 2023, the VCU transfer became one of the key cogs in the Bulldogs’ lineup this season. He appeared in 56 games, starting 53, and was third on the team in batting average, along with the second-highest total of doubles with 13. Hujsak was named to the SEC All-Tournament team in 2024 and will be long remembered in Starkville for his walk-off home run against Ole Miss in the tournament opener.
Tyler Davis, LHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 15, No. 437 (Kansas City Royals)
In his senior year, Davis became a bullpen stalwart for Chris Lemonis’s club. He struck out 41 batters in 35.1 innings of work while walking just 14. He led the team with five saves and his 28 appearances were the ninth most in the SEC. Davis’s consistency and his shiny 2.80 ERA made him an attractive late-round pick for the Royals.
Ethan Lege, OF, Ole Miss – Rd. 15, No. 444 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Lege’s final year of collegiate baseball was a fruitful one. Though it was cut short by an injury in early May, Lege’s production at the plate earned him recognition as a Ferris Trophy Award Finalist. The power-hitting righty led the Rebels with a .323 batting average, 11 doubles, and was second on the team in home runs with 13.
Connor Spencer, RHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 15, No. 466 (Oakland Athletics)
The Southeastern Louisiana transfer made 18 appearances for Ole Miss in 2024, good for third-most on the pitching staff. He also led the team with seven saves and held opponents to a .194 batting average. Mike Bianco and his staff are hoping Spencer returns for another year in Oxford but now will have to contend with Spencer’s professional opportunity.
Xavier Rivas, LHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 16, No. 481 (New York Yankees)
A long list of Rebels taken in the late rounds keeps getting longer with Rivas’s selection in the 16th. Expected by many to be one of the weekend starters for Ole Miss in 2024, a preseason injury sidelined the southpaw for the length of the season. Rivas is said to be expected to come back for another year of college ball, but his return isn’t a foregone conclusion after being selected by the Yankees.
David Mershon, SS, Mississippi State – Rd. 18, No. 532 (Los Angeles Angels)
The Bulldogs’ shortstop shined in 2024, earning First Team All-SEC and ABCA/Rawlings South All-Region Second Team honors, as well as being named to the Charlottesville All-Regional Team. He hit for a .347 batting average, the ninth-best mark in the SEC, and stole 27 bases this season, the second-highest total in the league. Mershon was a draft-eligible sophomore with two years of eligibility remaining, and given how late he was selected, the probability of him returning to Starkville for another year is high.
Cole Tolbert, RHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 18, No. 537 (Boston Red Sox)
In his junior season at Ole Miss, Tolbert made just six relief appearances and worked 4.2 innings. His 6’4″ frame gave scouts reason to believe he can be developed into a serviceable arm, but Tolbert will have the option of returning to Oxford for another season of college ball.
Cam Schuelke, RHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 19, No. 565 (Cleveland Guardians)
The sidewinding righthander made 32 appearances for the Bulldogs in 2024, the fourth-most appearances in the SEC. Schuelke finished the season with a 4.21 ERA in 47 innings and 47 strikeouts. The Michigan native projects as a middle relief bullpen arm at the next level as he moves on to the MiLB.
Dalton McIntyre, OF, Southern Miss – Rd. 19, No. 581 (Atlanta Braves)
Recruited out of Meridian Community College as a two-way player and expected to pitch for the Golden Eagles, McIntyre exploded onto the scene with scorching speed and a tenacious contact bat. He hovered around the .400 batting average mark for most of the 2024 campaign, leading the team with a .388 mark at season’s end. The Second Team All-Sun Belt selection was also a 2024 Boo Ferris Trophy Award finalist. Many expected McIntyre’s speed and contact prowess to push him up the draft board, and now the question is whether the professional deal will be good enough to lure him away from college ball.
Hunter Elliot, LHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 20, No. 610 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
The 2022 National Champion southpaw and Tupelo native did not compete in 2024 due to an injury sustained in 2023. He was also a Freshman All-American during the 2022 campaign and was expected to continue his dazzling run before being injured. Many are expecting to return to Oxford next season, and the late nature of his selection likely won’t change that.
Kyler Carmack, RHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 20, No. 612 (Philadelphia Phillies)
The Arkansas State transfer saw limited action in his first year with Ole Miss in 2024, making nine appearances and one start. As Mike Bianco and his staff hope to turn things around in Oxford next season, they’re hoping they can retain the talent of late-round picks like Carmack.
