Mississippi State alumni game scheduled for Friday night

Mississippi State’s 2026 Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic is scheduled for Friday night at Dudy Noble Field as part of the university’s homecoming weekend. Player introductions are listed for 7 p.m., with first pitch to follow. The game is set to stream on SEC Network+, and tickets remain available, according to the announcement.

The alumni game will again pit Team Thunder against Team Lightning. Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro, whose names inspired the teams, served as managers in last year’s inaugural game and are general managers this time. Mitch Moreland will manage Thunder, while Jonathan Papelbon will lead Lightning.

Jake Mangum, the SEC’s all-time hits leader and a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is set to captain Thunder. Tanner Allen, a former national player of the year and member of Mississippi State’s 2021 national championship team, will captain Lightning.

The announced rosters include 41 players, 31 of whom have played professionally, along with 17 current or former major leaguers. Adam Frazier, Hunter Renfroe, Tyler Moore and Craig Tatum are among the other former or current major leaguers named. The teams also include 45 professional players, 33 College World Series participants, 17 All-Americans, eight MLB All-Stars, six national champions, six first-round draft picks and two World Series champions.

Last year’s game drew 10,172 fans, according to the announcement. It ended in an 8-8 tie after seven innings, and Renfroe beat Moreland in a swing-off to give Palmeiro’s Team Lightning the win.

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