MISS STATE
When you go to Mississippi State to play baseball, you’re going to end up in some big-time games.
That was the case for LHP Ethan Small this year, and he delivered, going 9-2 in 16 starts and posting an ERA of 1.88 and striking out a whopping 160 batters in 96 innings.
Heading into the 2019 MLB Draft, the redshirt junior wasn’t expected to be a first-round pick, but after winning the SEC’s Pitcher of the Year award this season, that changed. A six-inning outing with 10 strikeouts in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday didn’t hurt, either.
Now, he’s heading to the Milwaukee Brewers’ farm system after the team made him the No. 28 overall pick in the draft. Small could still return to school, but first-round money will be hard to pass up.
First, though, the Bulldogs are hosting their own super regional, so Small will try to lead his team to a college title before heading to the minor leagues.
That 9-2 record is a lot more impressive when you consider that one of the losses came in a 1-0 game against Vandy and the other was in a 5-3 loss to Arkansas where Small gave up 3 runs in 6 innings of work to the hottest offense (at the time) in the SEC. With more run support, Ethan could have been 10-0 or 11-0 for the season. He did manage to put together a 1.88 ERA and recorded 160 K’s in just 96 innings.
We’ll miss you, Ethan, even if none of the other SEC teams will. Good luck in the pros.
Oh, Ethan also ended up with a no decision in a 1-0 loss to Southern Miss early in the season.
One of the best pitchers in State history. And, that’s a tough list to get on.