Maroon Metrics

After a lot of thought, Hail State Stats is now Maroon Metrics! The mission hasn't changed. It's still the same account committed to bringing you the best MSU Baseball stats, analysis, and insights. We're excited about what's ahead and have been working on additional new content offerings and opportunities to continue growing this MSU baseball stats community. Be on the lookout for some exciting things in the months ahead as we build towards the 2027 season and beyond. Thank you for being part of the journey. Hail State, and welcome to Maroon Metrics.

Bulldog Transfer Deep Dive: MSU's 6th transfer is SD State infielder Nolan Grawe. The 2026 sophomore has an impressive hit tool coupled above average speed and an elite K-Rate. Of his 70 hits, 30 were extra-base hits including 18 doubles and 5 triples. Nolan Grawe (2026 Sophomore) Prev: South Dakota State Ht/Wt: 6'3 / 190 Pos: 3B/INF Bat/Throw: L/R 2026: 54 games played .310 / .388 / .527 (.915 OPS) 50 R, 70 H, 18 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR 29 K, 26 BB 7/9 Stolen bases

After a lot of thought, Hail State Stats is now Maroon Metrics! The mission hasn't changed. It's still the same account committed to bringing you the best MSU Baseball stats, analysis, and insights. We're excited about what's ahead and have been working on additional new content offerings and opportunities to continue growing this MSU baseball stats community. Be on the lookout for some exciting things in the months ahead as we build towards the 2027 season and beyond. Thank you for being part of the journey. Hail State, and welcome to Maroon Metrics.

Grawe's hit tool profile and advanced metrics remind me a lot of a Bryce Chance / Jake Mangum style hitter but with more SLG potential. It will be exciting to see what he can do in a deep lineup with protection at MSU, where pitchers can't as easily pitch around him.

The freshman played in 13 games against teams that made the NCAA post season in 2026. In those games, he posted a .342 / .528 / .579 (1.107 OPS) with a 28% walk rate and 6 extra-base hits including 2 HRs.

Bulldog Transfer Deep Dive: MSU's 5th transfer is Army slugger and Freshman All-American Josiah Overbeek. The hard hitting corner infielder set the HR record for Army while having a walk rate over 25%. Josiah Overbeek (2026 Freshman) Prev: Army Ht/Wt: 6'4 / 230 Pos: 3B/DH Bat/Throw: L/R 2026: 46 games played .314 / .514 / .712 (1.226 OPS) 52 R, 48 H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 17 HR 41 K, 56 BB 3/3 Stolen bases #HailStateStats

@jammdawg3420 Possibly. But on his visits he was pitched as a strong contender for 3B. But it’s a long way from lineups being drawn up for 2027.

@HailStateStats It's my understanding that he's more likely to play 1st base?

While Overbeek was recruited by the Bulldogs as a slugging third baseman to replace Ace Reese, he also pitched 21.0 innings for Army with a 5.57 ERA, 17 K, 11 BB, across 15 appearances (5 Wins & 5 Saves). While he may never see the mound in Starkville, you know the athleticism and depth potential are there.

Against playoff teams in 2026 (including 4 SEC teams), @JakeSouders27 had a .306 average with 19 hits, 8 walks, and 5 stolen bases.

We'll have season recap deep dives on every player later, but it cannot be overlooked what MSU is returning in these two Sophomores alone. Much less the other returning arms, the incoming freshman class, and any portal additions. Tomas is a Golden Spikes semi-finalist and All-American (ABCA & Baseball America) who led the SEC regular season in Strikeouts and Wins in his Sophomore campaign. 17 starts (11 wins), 97.2 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 134 K, 20 BB Sophomore Ryan McPherson missed half of his starts due to injury and still gave MSU 10 starts and 43 innings while posting a 3.56 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 51 K and 13 BB. It will be difficult to find a better Friday-Saturday duo in the country next year than Valincius & McPherson.

Bulldog Transfer Deep Dive: Carson Fair MSU's 4th transfer is another bullpen arm with lockdown closer upside. Carson Fair (2026 Junior) Prev: Memphis Ht/Wt: 5’10 / 185 Pos: RHP Bat/Throw: R/R 2026: 22 relief appearances, 25.2 IP 3.51 ERA, 1.29 WHIP 28 K, 18 BB, 10 ER, .172 b/avg 51.7% ground ball rate 0.0 FB/HR% #HailStateStats

@Familymeddawg Yea based on the chase and whiff rates, and various contact rate data, it looks like he was elite with soft contact in the zone and struggled with initiating chase out of the zone.

@HailStateStats Banking on it. Looks like Fair gives up weak contact. If I had to guess, the BB issue is probably because he doesn’t have great command of the slider. It’s probably spinning way off the plate.

@Familymeddawg Compare pitchers before being with Parker and after, his success rate is incredible.

@HailStateStats K%-BB% and xFIP are both alarming numbers.

Bulldog Transfer Deep Dive: Zach Russell MSU's 3rd transfer is an arm with proven SEC success. While Russell has slightly above average strikeout rate upside, he’s feasts on ground balls and soft contact. He led the SEC in groundouts per appearance. A great addition to the existing hard-throwing whiff rate focused MSU pitching staff. Zach Russell (2026 Sophomore) Prev: South Carolina Ht/Wt: 6'2 / 180 Pos: RHP Bat/Throw: R/R 2026: 25 relief appearances, 32 IP 2.53 ERA, 1.38 WHIP 23 K, 20 BB, 9 ER, .209 b/avg 51.1% ground ball rate #HailStateStats

Bulldog Transfer Deep Dive: @JakeSouders27 MSU's 2nd transfer commit is one of the top players in the portal according to D1 Baseball. Coach O'Connor's 2nd transfer portal class is off to a hot start. Jake Souders (2026 Sophomore) Prev: Samford University Ht/Wt: 6'2 / 210 Pos: OF Bat/Throw: R/R In 2026: 56 games (35 RF, 21 CF) .356 / .431 / .575 (1.006 OPS) 13 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 24 BB, 45 K 17/21 Stolen Bases 53 WRC, 134 WRC+ 18.6 Line-drive%, 16.4 FB/HR% #HailStateStats

@Masharipov26112 A lot of versatility with this arm. He and Pitzer will be a lot of fun.

@HailStateStats I think that him and Tyler Pitzer will be our closing pieces next year. They seem to have stuff for it.