The 2026 MLB Draft delivered exactly what Ole Miss expected.
It also left the Rebels with plenty of work to do.
On the latest episode of Talk of Champions, Ben Garrett and Brad Logan broke down how the draft transformed Ole Miss’ roster, why Hunter Elliott’s return became even more significant, and where Mike Bianco and his staff must focus as they finalize next season’s team.
Hunter Elliott’s return changes everything
The biggest piece of good news arrived before the draft was even complete.
Hunter Elliott announced he would return to Ole Miss for another season, giving the Rebels an experienced ace to build around after losing much of their pitching staff to professional baseball.
Garrett argued there should be little debate about Elliott’s value. Even if he isn’t quite the same pitcher who helped lead Ole Miss to a national championship as a freshman, his leadership, experience and reliability immediately make him the most important returning arm on the roster.
Drew Pomeranz
— Sidelines – Ole Miss (@SSN_OleMiss) May 9, 2026
Lance Lynn
Hunter Elliott
The only 3 Ole Miss Rebels with 300+ Career K's 🏆pic.twitter.com/mmyw2pouAA
With so many innings departing, simply having a proven weekend starter back in Oxford provides stability at a position filled with uncertainty.
The MLB Draft gutted Ole Miss’ pitching depth
The optimism surrounding Elliott’s return couldn’t completely offset what happened over the two-day draft.
Ole Miss lost first-round selections Cade Townsend and Taylor Rabe, while additional pitchers including Landon Koenig, Wil Libbert and several other contributors are expected to begin their professional careers.
Players selected in #MLBDraft, per D1Baseball:
— Olivia Sayer (@OliviaKSayer) July 13, 2026
13 – Georgia
12 – Arkansas
10 – Arizona State, UCLA
8 – Georgia Tech, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
7 – Auburn, Cal Poly, Florida State, Minnesota, NC State, Oregon
By Garrett’s count, eight of the Rebels’ top pitchers from last season are now gone. That leaves Ole Miss rebuilding virtually its entire weekend rotation and bullpen heading into the fall. It’s a daunting task, but one the coaching staff anticipated throughout the spring.
Dom Decker provides a foundation
While the pitching losses dominated the headlines, Ole Miss also received another boost when veteran second baseman Dom Decker officially announced he will return for the 2027 season.
The decision solidifies the middle of the infield alongside Owen Paino and gives the Rebels another experienced leader in the lineup.
Per his instagram Dom Decker is returning to Oxford for one last ride.
— Jake McKeever (@CBCJakeMck) July 13, 2026
Bianco has made a habit of getting these guys back for their last years pic.twitter.com/B1yjE6WQwT
Garrett and Logan agreed Decker’s return helps stabilize a roster that otherwise saw significant turnover following the draft.
Joel Mangrum has earned the benefit of the doubt
Despite the losses on the mound, neither host sounded overly concerned about Ole Miss’ pitching development.
Instead, they pointed to pitching coach Joel Mangrum’s track record.
Over the past several seasons, Mangrum has consistently developed transfer pitchers into major contributors, including Taylor Rabe’s emergence into a first-round draft pick after arriving with far less fanfare.
Taylor Rabe (Ole Miss) isn't being talked about enough.
— Timothy Chen (@TimStats) May 24, 2026
Started 2026 as a reliever before making the transition to starter. While the results haven't been great the underlying traits are there. He has 5 pitches, a FB/SI/CT/CH/SL, has been up to 99 and has a BB% under 3.5 pic.twitter.com/PcNksXd81M
That history gives Garrett confidence that newcomers such as Charlie Foster, Charlie Wilcox, Brent Stukes, Eli Pillsbury and Mavrick Rizy can develop into SEC-caliber contributors.
The talent may be less proven than a year ago, but the coaching staff has repeatedly shown an ability to maximize pitchers once they arrive in Oxford.
One more bat remains the biggest priority
If there was one roster need both hosts repeatedly returned to, it wasn’t pitching. It was offense.
Garrett believes Ole Miss still needs another impact bat before the roster is complete, particularly after catcher Austin Fawley was selected in the 19th round and is expected to sign professionally.
Transfer catcher Brady Dallimore now projects as the primary option behind the plate, while players like Blake Fields, Jason Fultz and Trey Hawsey are expected to take on significant offensive roles immediately.
The concern isn’t necessarily the starting lineup. It’s the lack of proven depth behind it. Ole Miss will need several returning players, including Luke Romine, Cannon Goldin and Topher Jones, to make significant developmental jumps this fall.
