Four players from Mississippi State and one from Ole Miss are looking to represent the United States in the upcoming World Collegiate Baseball Championship.
Representing the Bulldogs are pitchers Jack Bauer, Ryan McPherson and Tomas Valincius along with outfielder Jacob Parker, while left-handed hurler Walker Hooks is representing the Rebels. Once the 2026 college baseball season ends, the five players will join USA Baseball for exhibition games in Burlington, N.C., and Danville, Va. They will also compete in the annual five-game Stars vs. Stripes series in Cary, N.C., from June 30-July 4.
McPherson and Reese were members of the Collegiate National Team last year that traveled to Japan. McPherson (4-1) had his 2026 collegiate season turned upside down when suffering an injury versus Vanderbilt in March. He had his longest stint post-injury against Louisiana in the Starkville Regional, logging five innings of work. The right-hander boasts a 2.81 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 42.1 innings. Reese, a coveted slugger, bats .328 with 77 hits, 21 doubles, 22 home runs, and 72 RBI.
Valincius (11-2) has captured the eyes of both college and pro baseball spectators across nation. The lefty boasts a 2.99 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and a whopping 130 strikeouts in 93.1 innings. Bauer (4-0), a fast-throwing southpaw, has a 6.48 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and has fanned 35 batters in 25 innings.
Hooks (3-1) has been spectacular on the bump for Ole Miss with seven saves, a 2.22 ERA, and 58 strikeouts over 52.2 innings. The Brandon native finished the regular season leading the SEC with a 1.73 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 17 appearances during conference play.
The Collegiate National Team will be announced on July 5 before they go compete in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship at Taichung City Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taiwan from July 11-15.
Before the Mississippi State and Ole Miss players can even begin to think about USA Baseball activities, they have business to finish in the current campaign. Both clubs advanced to super regionals in the NCAA Tournament and will vie for spots in the College World Series this weekend.
The Bulldogs will look to avenge four straight losses to Georgia this year in the Athens Super Regional, while the Rebels will battle an SEC foe it has not faced this season in the Auburn Super Regional. Full super regional schedules for both teams can be found here.
