Ole Miss baseball 2024 MLB Draft projections from signees to Rebels eligible to be picked

OXFORD — It's been an offseason of attrition for Ole Miss baseball, with key players like Andrew Fischer and Liam Doyle departing via the transfer portal.

Now the 2024 MLB Draft will have another major say in what the Rebels' roster looks like in 2025. Ten players who could return to Ole Miss are eligible to be selected ‒ as is the entirety of the transfer class coach Mike Bianco has put together.

But the biggest questions are about players who haven't made it to college campuses. Ole Miss' 17-man recruiting class, ranked seventh by Perfect Game, includes three players ranked by MLB.com among the top 250 prospects in this year's draft.

Here's a look at what lies ahead for the Rebels when the draft begins on Sunday.

Ole Miss baseball signees to watch in 2024 MLB Draft

Three Ole Miss commits went in the first six rounds of last year's MLB Draft, and each opted to sign professional contracts.

The biggest name to watch in this cycle is outfielder Slade Caldwell, considered the No. 27 overall prospect in this draft by MLB.com. Caldwell, a native of Jonesboro, Arkansas, is a speedy lefthanded bat. The 27th pick in this year's draft carries a signing bonus slot value of over $3.2 million.

Shortstop Owen Paino out of Poughkeepsie, New York, is another name to monitor. He's considered the No. 142 draft prospect, with a slot value of $485,700.

MLB.com also ranks right-handed pitcher and California native Cade Townsend as the draft's No. 150 prospect. That slot carries a value of $448,700.

Ole Miss players eligible for the 2024 MLB Draft

College players who have completed three seasons at the collegiate level or turn 21 at least 45 days before the draft are considered eligible for selection. The following Rebels retain college eligibility while meeting those criteria.

• RHP Riley Maddox
• LHP Xavier Rivas
• RHP Josh Mallitz
• LHP Hunter Elliott
• OF Connor Chisolm
• LHP Gunnar Dennis
• RHP Mason Nichols
• RHP Connor Spencer
• RHP Brayden Jones
• RHP Sam Tookoian

None is considered a top 250 prospect by MLB.com. But, in a 20-round event, all it takes is one team to like the evaluation tape.

The most interesting players for Ole Miss fans to monitor here are Hunter Elliott and Xavier Rivas, a pair of left-handed starters who lost their 2024 seasons to injury. Rivas had a 6.35 ERA last season after making the jump from the Division II ranks. Elliott was outstanding as a freshman as Ole Miss made its national championship run in 2022 but has pitched six innings since then.

In general, there are several pitchers on this list who were productive in 2024 without being outstanding. With Doyle and Wes Mendes departing an already underperforming staff, Ole Miss will hope to retain its more reliable arms.

FOOTBALL: Ole Miss football QB Jaxson Dart feeling healthy after 'brutal' 2023 season

Departing Ole Miss baseball players to watch 2024 MLB Draft

A handful of notable Rebels exhausted their eligibility in 2024. Among that group, Ethan Lege and Jackson Ross had the best seasons.

Lege hit .323 with 13 homers and a 1.069 OPS in 43 games before a thumb injury ended his season.

Ross batted .280 with a .930 OPS and 10 home runs in 2024 after making the move from Florida Atlantic.

David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.

Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss baseball 2024 MLB Draft projections from signees to Rebels eligible to be picked