News Summary
The Ole Miss Rebels baseball team is transforming its roster for the 2026 season after a solid 43-21 finish in 2025. Leveraging the NCAA Transfer Portal, they aim to strengthen their team, highlighted by the addition of left-handed pitcher Grant Richardson. However, the team faces significant losses, including infielder Campbell Smithwick and several other players entering the portal. Coach Mike Bianco seeks to refocus the team’s strategy to improve performance and advance beyond the regionals in the upcoming season.
Oxford, Mississippi – The Ole Miss Rebels baseball team is undergoing a significant roster overhaul as they prepare for the 2026 season following their recent elimination from the NCAA Regionals. The Rebels, who concluded their 2025 season with an impressive 43-21 record, are eager to refine their talent pool by actively utilizing the NCAA Transfer Portal to bring in new players and enhance their competitive edge.
Key to this offseason’s strategy is the team’s first commitment from the transfer portal: Grant Richardson, a left-handed pitcher from Grand Canyon University. Although Richardson missed the entire 2025 season due to injury, he had previously demonstrated his potential during the 2024 season, where he recorded a 3.73 ERA and an impressive strikeout rate of 12.43. His addition is expected to bolster the pitching staff significantly.
In stark contrast, the team faces notable losses as several players have decided to enter the transfer portal. One of the first significant departures is infielder Campbell Smithwick, who played a crucial role in the 2025 season. He appeared in 40 games, earning 27 starts as a catcher and designated hitter. Smithwick concluded his season with a .282 batting average, achieving 31 hits, 23 RBIs, and 5 home runs in 110 at-bats.
Another player leaving the team is right-handed pitcher Cole Ketchum, who had been with the Rebels for three years. Ketchum’s limited appearances in the past two seasons have led him to seek opportunities elsewhere through the transfer portal. Additionally, freshman infielder Jackson Miller is also making a move, entering the portal after a challenging season that saw him participate in only five games during 2025.
The exodus does not end there, as several other players have joined the ranks of those entering the transfer portal. Infielder Tyler Acevedo, pitcher Hudson Mattox, and outfielder Connor Chisolm are the latest names added to the list, leaving the Rebels with pivotal vacancies to fill ahead of the next season.
Coach Mike Bianco, set to begin his 26th season with Ole Miss, will need to reassess his team’s dynamics and strive to attract new talent through the NCAA Transfer Portal and positioning the team for a stronger 2026 campaign. The challenges faced in the 2025 season culminated in a loss to Murray State in the regional finals after the Rebels exhibited commendable resilience by winning three elimination games leading up to that point.
As the offseason progresses, the Clarion Ledger will continue to follow the Ole Miss baseball team closely, providing updates on player movements and any new commitments. The Rebels are focused on building a competitive roster capable of returning to postseason play and achieving their goal of advancing beyond the regionals in the upcoming season.
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Additional Resources
- 247Sports: Ole Miss Baseball Transfer Portal Needs
- SI: Ole Miss Baseball Transfer Portal Tracker
- On3: Ole Miss Baseball Transfer Portal Intel
- Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss Baseball Transfer Portal Tracker
- SI: Ole Miss Baseball Catcher Enters Transfer Portal
- Wikipedia: Ole Miss Rebels Baseball
- Google Search: Ole Miss Baseball
