Mississippi State baseball couldn't have closed out the regular season any better. The Bulldogs swept the Missouri Tigers in blowout fashion to finish at .500 in SEC play, something that seemed impossible just a few weeks back, and locked themselves into being a regional team. And making these final regular season games even sweeter is the history that happened during them.
Hunter Hines breaks Mississippi State's career home runs record
Hunter Hines has been one of the best power hitters in Mississippi State history. The Madison, MS native burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2022 with 16 home runs, was a 1st Team All-SEC player in 2023 with 22 home runs, and tacked on another 16 deep shots last season as a junior.
He entered his senior season 13 home runs shy of Rafael Palmeiro's career record at State (67), well within striking difference if he could have a big year. In State's series opener at Missouri, Hines had his first multi-home run game of the season to tie Palmeiro atop the list. Then on Friday, he made history.
The lefty hit a no-doubter over the right field wall for career home run No. 68, the exact hit that's made up the vast majority of those 68 homers. Officially, the Mississippi State baseball home run crown belongs to Hunter Hines, forever cementing his place in Bulldog lore.
Oh, and he wasn't done. In Sunday's series finale, Hunter Hines would add another home run, his fourth of the weekend and fifteenth of the year, to his career total, pushing the record out to 69.
He's going to have the chance to extend his lead further in the coming weeks. The Bulldogs head to Hoover the SEC Tournament this week, and next week, they'll be in a regional. Given the momentum behind the team currently, Hunter may still have several more games left to play in. And with how he's playing there's plenty of reason to think he'll keep tacking on more deep shots to close out his senior year.
Rafael Palmeiro congratulates Hunter Hines on home run record
Hunter Hines broke a record that had stood for four decades. Rafael Palmeiro's career mark long looked as though it would never be broken, even with all the big-time hitters to come through Starkville. Hunter Hines changed that, so appropriately, the MSU legend and former Big League star sent his congratulations to Hines for being the one to finally break the record.
There is some warranted context that Palmeiro's record of 67 home runs happened in three seasons while Hunter Hines is deep into his fourth season in Starkville. Certainly, Palmeiro accomplishing that feat in the timeframe that he did is remarkable, and that will forever stand out within his all-time great legacy.
But in fairness to Hines, the eras are very different. Pitcher development and equipment changes have made lofty home run totals less common in today's game. Regardless of seasons played, he is more than worthy enough to sit atop Dudy Noble Field's home run throne.
And now he gets the chance to add to his postseason legacy. If Hunter Hines can continue to show off the long ball in a regional and help lead the Diamond Dawgs on a run, he'll be even more revered in Mississippi State history.