5 Virginia players Mississippi State would love Brian O'Connor to bring to Starkville

Brian O'Connor had plenty of talent in Charlottesville, and much of that talent has hit the portal since he was hired at Mississippi State. Which Cavaliers should State fans hope follow O'Connor to Starkville?
Jun 16, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Virginia Cavaliers first baseman Henry Ford (9) gets an out against the Florida State Seminoles during the seventh inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Jun 16, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Virginia Cavaliers first baseman Henry Ford (9) gets an out against the Florida State Seminoles during the seventh inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Mississippi State baseball is quickly moving into the Brian O'Connor era, and that means loading up the roster for the 2026 season. The Bulldogs will certainly attack the transfer portal heavily, and that's especially true considering many of O'Connor's players from Virginia have entered the portal. Several are likely to follow him to Starkville. Here's five State fans hope to see make the move...

Shortstop Eric Becker

Eric Becker is a big time bat the Bulldogs would love to have in the lineup. He led UVA in batting at .368, slugging at .617, and RBI at 52 to take home 3rd Team All-ACC honors. He had a big season in 2024 as well, being named to the ACC's All-Freshman team. State will need a shortstop for 2026, and Becker is an outstanding player for that role.

Outfielder Henry Ford

Henry Ford is the big fish from the Virginia roster MSU would be thrilled to land. Ford burst onto the scene as as freshman in 2024 with 17 HRs and 69 RBI. Those numbers dipped this season, but he still batted .362 and went deep on 11 occasions. He's a big time talent, which is why the draft-eligible sophomore may go early in the 2025 MLB Draft. But depending on where he's taken, he could easily return to college, and ideally, he'd land in Starkville.

Outfielder Aidan Teel

There's several bats State would love to add from the hard-hitting Cavalier lineup, and Aiden Teel is one of them. The 3rd Team All-ACC outfielder hit .317 with seven HRs and 40 RBI. Teel was a perfect 9-9 stealing bases and scored 51 runs. He was also the only UVA starter with a perfect fielding percentage. Teel would be another great addition for State.

Pitcher Tomas Valincius

Tomas Valincius was UVA's top arm in 2025. The freshman lefty had a 6-1 record in 12 starts with a 4.59 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Valincius had 70 strikeouts to just 17 walks last season. Along with being a talented young pitcher, another reason to closely watch for Valincius is that his brother, Vytas, is also in the portal after an impressive season playing first base at Illinois. It's possible you're looking at a "two-for-one" deal here.

First baseman Chris Arroyo

Chris Arroyo would be a versatile piece to add to the roster. He primarily played first base for the Hoos, batting .291 with 11 HRs and 42 RBI. But he can also pitch. Arroyo made seven appearances and three starts on the mound in 2025 with a 4.97 ERA. He'd likely play first at State, especially with Hunter Hines moving on, but having someone who could also give you some innings in relief would be valuable.