Ole Miss begins baseball practice Friday at 2 p.m., and RebelGrove.com is your home for all the latest regarding the Diamond Rebels. To begin our coverage, here's what you need to know heading into spring practice. Bookmark it, print it out or skim it when necessary.
With a lot of facts and a few opinions mixed in, this is the beginner's guide to the 2011 Ole Miss baseball season.
Overbey is a leading candidate to start at third base as a freshman for the Rebels… He hit just .196 during the fall and needs to improve his 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio from intrasquads… Is already a plus defensive player and should develop quickly at the plate… Perfect Game rated Overbey a 10 on its 1-to-10 scale, and he was drafted in the 42nd round by the Tampa Bay Rays this past summer.
No. 2 Alex Yarbrough: Sophomore infielder (Allen, Texas)
Yarbrough started 58 games as a freshman, hitting .283 and leading Ole Miss with 21 multi-hit games… He was named SEC Freshman of the Week twice… The switch-hitter hit .288 during the fall and had the team's third-most total bases with 28.
No. 3 Gabe Woods: Freshman infielder (Albany La.)
Woods showed versatility in the fall, adequately playing the different infield positions… He hit an impressive .327 during the fall, showing a great ability to adapt. Woods tied for the second-most intrasquad hits with 18.
Hoekel had a 9.35 ERA in the fall, striking out 11 and walking 12… He was injured last spring, possibly hurting his draft stock but was taken by the Boston Red Sox in the 50th round… He didn't finish his inning in the fall a team-high five times.
Newalu transferred to Ole Miss from Chipola College… A very good athlete, Newalu stole 32-of-36 bases last season for Chipola and hit .372. He's locked in a tight battle with freshman Austin Anderson for the shortstop spot and needs to have a consistent preseason defensively… Hit .268 in the fall with six stolen bases, second on the team.
No. 7 David Goforth: Junior right-handed pitcher (Philadelphia, Miss.)
After a sensational freshman season, Goforth regressed as a sophomore, compiling a 1-6 record and ERA over nine… Started 11 games and surrendered 90 hits in 56 innings… Drafted in the 31st round by the Cleveland Indians… Developed a cutter during the offseason to go with his 90-plus MPH fastball and dazzled during the fall with a 2.37 ERA and a 19-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio… Goes into the spring as a probable weekend starter.
Described as "just an all-around solid baseball player," Anderson turned heads in the fall with a .333 batting average and consistent shortstop play… heads into practice even with Newalu for the shortstop job… Struck out just seven times in 54 at-bats during the fall…
No. 10 Jordan King: Senior outfielder (Brandon, Miss.)
King has made tremendous strides since last season and goes into the spring with a shot to earn a starting spot… Moved to the outfield prior to the fall and excelled at the position… Hit .278 and had an 80-precent stolen base success rate in the fall… Appeared in 13 games and had one hit in nine at-bats last season.
No. 11 Zach Kirksey: Junior outfielder (West Monroe, La.)
A candidate for the vacant left-field position, Kirksey hit .296 and let the team with 30 total bases in the fall… Stole six-of-seven bases in the fall but struck out 22 times in 54 at-bats… Won a national championship with LSU-Eunice last season… Was drafted in the 41st round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.
The offensive MVP of the fall, Mathis led Ole Miss with a .420 average, 87 points higher than the closest person… Hit two triples and had a 1.014 OPS… Last season, he hit .330 in 20 starts and 40 games but struggled defensively and with consistency… Seemed more comfortable during the fall and didn't press nearly as bad… A strong candidate to start in centerfield.
No. 14 Taylor Hightower: Junior catcher (Cartersville, Ga.)
Hightower has been praised for his work ethic during the offseason and should contend for the starting catcher position… Hit .285 last season and struggled during the year defensively with his receiving… Hit .268 during the fall and appeared to be a solid leader and take ownership of the pitching staff.
No. 16 Matt Smith: Senior outfielder (Milan, Ga.)
Back for his fifth year in the program, Smith is the team's leader and a consistent force in the line-up… He's developed as a hitter during his career and had a team-high .348 average and 12 home runs last season… Hit .308 during the fall… Should start in right field but can fill in at first base if needed.
No. 17 Jordan Poole: Freshman outfielder (Calhoun, Ga.)
Poole hit just .196 during the fall but flashed power with six extra-base hits, including three triples… Had a team-high 26 strikeouts… Ran a 6.65 60 in 2009… Rated a 9.5 by Perfect Game
Oursler had a 5.40 ERA during the fall and walked eight in 10 innings… Averaged 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
No. 19 Bobby Wahl: Freshman right-handed pitcher (Springfield, Va.)
The highest-rated player of the signing class, Wahl is a top-five round talent, but signability issues pushed him to the Cleveland Indians' 39th round pick… Perfect Game graded Wahl a 10.0… Easy arm action and can elevate fastball into the mid-90s… Had a 5.40 ERA during the fall with 18 strikeouts and nine walks in 19 innings.
No. 20 Matt Crouse: Junior left-handed pitcher (Haymarket, Va.)
Crouse was very good as a sophomore with a 3.74 ERA and 5-1 record, but he reached another gear during the fall… Posted a ridiculous 0.95 fall ERA and had 25 strikeouts and two walks in 19 innings… Mentally tough on the mound… He showed command of three pitches and enters the spring as a heavy favorite for a weekend role.
Rothlin began last season as Ole Miss' Sunday starter but struggled with command moved to the bullpen before midseason… Had a 4.62 ERA in 2010… During the offseason he dropped down into a side-arm delivery and the early returns have been promising, giving the sinker more bite and more run to his pitches… Put up a 3.29 ERA and walked only four in 13.2 innings.
Described by some as a "left-handed Aaron Barrett," Wright throws a heavy fastball and can mix in offspeed pitches on occasion… He had a 5.40 ERA during the fall but flashed solid numbers with 25 strikeouts and five walks… Was drafted in the 23rd round of the 2008 (Pirates) and 2010 (Red Sox) MLB Drafts… Originally signed with Arkansas out of high school before enrolling at Chipola… was Perfect Game's No. 37 prospect in 2008.
No. 23 Eric Callender: Senior right-handed pitcher (Baton Rouge, La.)
Callender had a 6.19 ERA in his debut season with the Rebels but suffered from forearm trouble after the midpoint of the year… Struggled stranding inherited runners but finished with a 4-1 record… Looked completely healthy in the fall with a 2.65 ERA and 19 strikeouts to only four walks.
No. 24 Miles Hamblin: Senior infielder/catcher (Rowlett, Texas)
Hamblin struggled with the transition from junior college to Division I early but was an important cog late in the year… Hit only .226 for the season but was much better the last third of the campaign… Batted .268 during the fall… Extremely valuable due to his versatility - can catch, play first base or third base… Probable middle-of-the-order hitter.
Hit .226 in the fall… Can catch or play in the outfield
No. 26 Chris Ellis: Freshman infielder (Macon, Ga.)
Played both second base and first base in the fall while hitting .286… Showed solid plate discipline with eight walks and eight strikeouts… Wouldn't be surprised to see him get some innings off the bench.
No. 27 RJ Hively: Junior right-handed pitcher (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Posted a 2.70 ERA in the fall… In the running for a weekend role but could thrive in the bullpen and starting midweek games due to his ability to bounce back quickly after outings… Throws a cut fastball effectively and has a two-tier slider with good tilt… Originally signed with Cal State Fullerton out of high school, leaving after his redshirt freshman season.
No. 28 Mike Mayers: Freshman right-handed pitcher (Grove City, Ohio)
For me, Mayers was the freshman surprise of the fall, as he compiled a 2.61 ERA and pitched a team-high 20.2 intrasquad innings… Has sneaky velocity with his fastball and pitches with maturity… Three-sport high school athlete, and his school nearly voted to end all athletic programs prior to Mayers' senior year.
No. 29 Matt Tracy: Senior left-handed pitcher (Des Peres, Mo.)
Had three SEC wins in relief last season… Pitched 60 innings and had a .585 ERA… Drafted in the 43rd round by the Florida Marlins… Had a 3.38 ERA in the fall and excelled with control, totaling 23 strikeouts and five walks… Hit .207 last season but brings Ole Miss power potential from the left side… Hit .292 during the fall.
No. 30 Will Allen: Freshman catcher (Gainesville, Fla.)
Should be an immediate factor, as Ole Miss needs his bat in the line-up as a freshman… Hit .259 in the fall with six extra-base hits… Can catch or play several positions in the field… Physical at the plate already… Was a 37th round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Perfect Game rated Allen a 9.5.
No. 32 Eric Sauls: Junior outfielder (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Transfer from Chipola College hit .192 in the fall… Hit 17 home runs at Chipola but will need to be more complete with the new bats and high level.
No. 33 Matt Snyder: Junior infielder (Centreville, Va.)
Missed 21 games last season with a reoccurring shoulder injury but still managed to hit .348 and tie for the team lead in home runs with 12… Had offseason surgery and missed the fall but is 100 percent… Ole Miss' best power source and should be able to hit double-digit home runs despite the bat changes… Brother, Mike, transferred to Florida Southern following last season.
No. 34 Jon Andy Scott: Junior left-handed pitcher (Booneville, Miss.)
Just returning from Tommy John rehabilitation, Scott struggled with a 14.40 ERA in the fall and a .440 batting average against.
Wright redshirted in 2009 and underwent Tommy John surgery last spring… Missed the fall and could miss part or most of the spring with the rehabilitation… In my opinion, he may sit out another season to get 100 percent healthy and also assist Ole Miss in the mandatory roster trim.
Was a savior last season, filling in for injured closer Jake Morgan and notching 12 saves, one short of the single-season school record… Put up a 3.54 ERA and a 2-0 record… named a Freshman All-America selection by NCBWA, Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball… Surprisingly struggled during the fall with a 10.29 ERA but was solid the last couple weeks… Pitched only 14 fall innings… Expected to man the back-end of the bullpen with Morgan, possibly the top one-two punch in the league.
Allowed eight runs in six innings during the fall on the mound but didn't walk a hitter… Hit .205 with a .300 on-base percentage… Is versatile defensively and can play any infield position.
No. 40 Scott Weathersby: Freshman right-handed pitcher (Hattiesburg, Miss.)
Put up a 4.50 ERA in 12 innings during the fall… Struck out nine, walked six and had a .217 batting average against… Nice live arm and is an intriguing sleeper.
No. 41 Tanner Bailey: Junior right-handed pitcher (Little Rock, Ark.)
Injured his labrum and had surgery last spring… Likely to miss the season due to the injury and be a junior in 2012… Unexpected to be on the 35-man active roster.
After a sensational season as the Rebels' closer in 2009, Morgan underwent Tommy John surgery in fall 2009 and missed last season… Pitched 12 innings in the fall with a 4.50 ERA, 14 strikeouts and three walks… Said he was 95 percent, so the elbow shouldn't be an issue… Likely to resume closer role with Huber factoring in during the late innings… Struck out 55 and walked seven in 2009, including recording more than 20 straight outs by strikeout.
Solid defensively at first base but must learn to adjust to offspeed pitches at the plate… Hit .051 in the fall and struck out 17 times in 39 at-bats while walking just once.
PLAY CLOCK NOW MANDATORY: Other than the widely-hated new bats, the NCAA has instituted a pitch clock system to speed up play.
Ole Miss will install a digital clock on the Swayze Field outfield wall, so umpires can implement the new rule. It requires a pitch to be thrown within 20 second when the bases are empty. The first violation is a warning, and a ball is added to the count on each subsequent violation. Also, teams taking the field between innings will be timed.
The Southeastern Conference experimented with these rules during the league tournament in 2010.
"We've practiced this, and it doesn't seem to be a huge issue," UM head coach Mike Bianco said. "The time between innings is probably the bigger deal."
NOTES: Ole Miss must trim the active roster to 35 players by Opening Day... The Rebels begin the season Feb. 18 against Wright State. Twenty of Ole Miss' first 23 games are at home... The Rebels' SEC home series are Mississippi State, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky... Ole Miss will travel to Auburn, LSU, Florida, Tennessee and Arkansas.