‘Huge for the program’: Owen Paino is the foundation Ole Miss baseball can build around

Roy C. Ketcham (N.Y.) shortstop Owen Paino won’t hear his name called this week during the 2024 MLB Draft. He withdrew his name over the weekend and is set to play for Ole Miss in 2025.

The 6-foot-3, 205 pound prospect is ready to start his college career and even more ready to be a part of the turnaround in Oxford, Miss. Two years removed from a national title and questions and uncertainty hover over Swayze Field.

But, one thing is for sure. Owen Paino is going to be a big part of the program no matter what.

The Ole Miss signee led the Storm (20-3) to the Class AAA tournament in 2024, hitting .532(!) with 28 runs batted in, 37 runs and 22 stolen bases. Paino posted a stellar .722 on-base percentage, and hit four home runs as well. The No. 21 overall prospect in the Class of 2024, per Perfect Game , was named the 2024 Section 1 Player of the Year and was a 2023 Perfect Game All-American Game selection.

“I couldn’t have been more impressed with Owen Paino as a player. He’s an incredible defensive shortstop with legit gap-to-gap power from the left side,” New Rochelle (N.Y.) head coach Claude Balliet said . “What impressed me most about him was his on-field demeanor and leadership. He truly plays the game the right way.”

As Ole Miss looks to get back to the NCAA Tournament and into the SEC conversation, Owen Paino is a great place to start.

“Paino is a big, strong-bodied shortstop with a chance to have a ton of impact on both sides of the ball. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills with rhythm, timing and balance to his swing,” an MLB scout said. “He’s more of a line-drive, gap-to-gap type of hitter now, but it’s easy to dream on him getting to his raw power as he matures at the next level. He’s an average runner with excellent instincts.

“Roy C. Ketcham High School in New York has become a baseball powerhouse in the Empire State, winning a state title in 2023 and boasting six Division I recruits on its 2024 roster,” an MLB scout said . “The best of them is Paino, who was one of the best high school performers on the summer showcase circuit and has a good chance to be the first Dutchess County high schooler to be drafted since Cleveland took Lenny Torres No. 41 overall in 2018.”

The shortstop lineage at Ole Miss is elite company.

From Zack Cozart to Errol Robinson. Grae Kessinger to Anthony Servideo. Jacob Gonzalez to even Archie Manning. The name cache in the middle infield is loaded with some heavy hitters. And Paino has all the makings of being next in line.

“Paino stands out amongst his peers with a lean, physical frame from the left side of the plate. He’s got a very smooth swing, featuring twitchy hips and a strong lower half with an approach designed to do damage between up the middle and to the gaps,” Prospects Live said. “There’s good leverage and loft in his swing plane with solid bat speed, giving him solid power potential.

“He’s a present shortstop with great body control for his size with a solid arm, though there’s a chance he may move to third base, or even a corner outfield spot, with added muscle/weight,” Prospects Live said. “He’s a very smart player with great instincts, as well.”

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