Ole Miss finished 2016 with an 0-2 showing in the Oxford Regional to end the season with a 43-19 record. The Rebels went 18-12 in the SEC, had a No. 5 regular season RPI and advanced to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.
Six underclassmen are expected to bypass their final Ole Miss seasons and move on to professional baseball, but it's possible Ole Miss keeps its entire elite signing class intact. For the sake of this defensive lineup projection, the assumption is all drafted juniors are unavailable and all incoming players are on campus.
The Rebels open 2017 with a home three-game series against East Carolina.
Catcher: Cooper Johnson (Freshman)
I considered rising sophomore Nick Fortes here, and I do think the Florida native will play, but Johnson has a chance to be elite quickly defensively, and that ability to control the run game and impact the opponent is the factor for me. No one expected Johnson to show to campus, but as of now at least, he's headed to Oxford.
Johnson's offense needs to improve, but the defense gets him on the field early. Some thought he was the best defensive catcher in the recent MLB Draft, regardless of classification. Mike Bianco hasn't ever relied on a true freshman full-time throughout a season, but Johnson isn't expected to be a typical freshman.
First Base: Colby Bortles (Senior)
As you'll note with this projection, it's about getting the best overall team on the field, even if a couple players aren't at their expected position. Bortles was very good at third base last season, and that may continue, but this move sets up the infield.
Bortles can be a good defender at first base, as he moves laterally and in better than he gets credit for. He worked there some last fall. No matter where he plays, he'll hit in the middle of the lineup. Bortles led Ole Miss with 21 doubles in 2016.
Second Base: Bryce Blaum (Freshman)
It speaks to the depth of the signing class that most people don't know about Blaum. The middle infielder from Sugar Land, Texas, is the No. 6 shortstop in Texas, per Perfect Game, and he chose the Rebels over LSU, TCU, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Blaum does everything well, and he can give the Rebels some athleticism at second base.
The fall will be important to start seeing how he transitions to the Southeastern Conference, but the tools are there to be a three-year starter. In other signing classes, Blaum would be a star signee. He got overshadowed by others, but it's very possible he's on the opening day lineup card.
