See which players on Mississippi State baseball roster are playing on summer league teams

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball has been in offseason mode since May 20 after its final series against Texas A&M marked another year without a postseason appearance. However, while coach Chris Lemonis and his staff have spent the past month preparing a roster for next season, many of the Bulldogs are still on the diamond.

Mississippi State has players scattered across the country playing in summer leagues from the Cape Cod League to the Valley Baseball League. Participants range from All-SEC slugger Hunter Hines to Hollis Porter − a freshman who saw no playing time in 2023.

The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back after going 27-26 this year with a 9-21 record in SEC play. A big part of the offseason for MSU was hiring a pitching coach, which Lemonis accomplished on June 19 with the addition of Justin Parker.

While finding talent in the transfer portal is top priority for the staff, here's a look at which players are still playing as the summer rolls along.

Hunter Hines − Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox

Hines is heating up in the Cape Code. He leads the league with six home runs − three in the last two games − and 21 RBIs while hitting .328. After hitting 22 home runs as a sophomore this year, MSU's slugger is scorching with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.

Dakota Jordan − Newport Gulls

Jordan is currently at training camp with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, but his time with the Gulls was effective. In 10 games, he hit .393 with five RBIs. While in Newport, Rhode Island, Jordan entered and exited the transfer portal.

David Mershon − Ocean State Waves

Playing in the New England League like Jordan, Mershon has been showing off his speed. While hitting .273, MSU's shortstop has nine steals on 10 attempts in 15 games.

Ross Highfill − Falmouth Commodores

Highfill, who is coming off his freshman season at catcher, has gotten off to a slow start offensively in the Cape Cod League. He is hitting .214 with a pair of home runs and six RBIs.

KC Hunt − Falmouth Commodores

Hunt is spending the summer with his battery mate Highfill. It has proven to be a strong pairing as Hunt has allowed just one run in 7⅔ innings. He has struck out 14 and walked six.

Connor Hujsak − Sanford River Rats

Hujsak, a utility player who earned just 42 at-bats this season after transferring from VCU, may be the biggest surprise of the summer for MSU. Playing in the Florida Collegiate Summer League, Hujsak is hitting .407 with five home runs and 11 RBIs. He has drawn eight walks while striking out eight times.

Evan Siary − Amsterdam Mohawks

Siary, coming off his freshman season at MSU, has had a successful summer. Playing in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, he has allowed two earned runs in 17⅔ innings. He has struck out 18 and walked seven.

Nate Chester − Danville Dans

Playing in the Prospect League, Chester is hitting .333 across 66 at-bats − easily surpassing his mark of 19 at-bats for MSU this year. Chester is an infielder who came to Mississippi State from John A. Logan Community College.

Aaron Downs − Newport Gulls

Downs, another utility player who is coming off his sophomore season, is hitting .250. He has yet to hit a home run or record an RBI.

Will Gibbs − Newport Gulls

Completing the trio of Bulldogs in Newport, Gibbs has thrown five innings and allowed two runs. As a freshman for MSU, he allowed three runs in five frames.

Logan Forsythe − Charlotesville Tomsox

Forsythe has struggled in the Valley Baseball League. In eight innings, he has allowed 10 runs. He has 16 strikeouts and nine walks allowed.

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Hollis Porter − Charlottesville Tomsox

Porter is hitting .240 with three RBIs in the Valley Baseball League.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball roster: Bulldogs players in summer leagues