Mississippi State University has seen a surge of its former baseball players competing professionally in 2026. According to sources, 51 alumni are active in professional baseball, including eight in Major League Baseball, with several holding notable accolades.
Among current MLB players are All-Stars Adam Frazier, Brent Rooker, Jordan Westburg, and Brandon Woodruff, as well as World Series champion Nathaniel Lowe. MSU has produced 72 Major Leaguers, 13 All-Stars, seven World Series champions, and 20 first-round draft picks, including Rooker, Westburg, and others, during its history, according to university records.
Several Bulldogs are making impacts at various levels of professional baseball. Justin Foscue of the Texas Rangers is batting .256 with seven home runs. J.T. Ginn of the Oakland Athletics is on the injured list with a blister. Nathaniel Lowe, traded to Cleveland on Aug. 3 from Cincinnati, is hitting .266 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs this season.
Other notable players include Jake Mangum of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brent Rooker of the Athletics, and Jordan Westburg of the Baltimore Orioles, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Brandon Woodruff of the Milwaukee Brewers is sidelined after shoulder surgery, and Konnor Pilkington of the Washington Nationals earned a win in relief recently.
In the minor leagues, former Bulldogs like Eric Cerantola of the Sacramento River Cats and Jurrangelo Cijntje of the Memphis Redbirds are actively competing. Several others are progressing through various levels, with some facing injuries or limited play. Mississippi State continues to be a significant pipeline for professional baseball talent, with updates available weekly on HailState.com, according to university sources.
