Jake Mangum's breakout performance no surprise to Mississippi State fans

When you start talking about the most beloved athletes in Mississippi State history, you can just about guarantee that Jake Mangum will be one of the first names mentioned. The Diamond Dawg legend will forever go down in MSU history not only for his outstanding play and effort on the field but also for how he embraced Starkville and represented the university.

That's why State fans couldn't have been more elated to see Mangum finally get his shot in the major leagues. After six long years playing minor league ball, the SEC's all-time hits leader got the call-up to The Show, making his first MLB start for the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

In his second start on Monday night, the 29-year old rookie showed exactly why he belongs at this level. Mangum went a perfect 4-4 at the plate, driving home a pair of runs and stealing two bases to lead the Rays to a 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bulldog fans followed along with immense pride, and The Mayor's performance was no surprise to those of us who watched him in Starkville.

Mississippi State fans always knew this is what Jake Mangum would do if given the chance

Anyone who has followed Jake Mangum's career knew this was coming. It doesn't matter the level. It doesn't matter the circumstances. Jake Mangum is going to get hits. It's the thing he does better than anyone.

Of course he'd have a game like this one this early in his MLB career. And how his first big league hit happened wasn't at all shocking either. A single through the left side? That's a hit we watched him make countless times during his career.

Truly, you couldn't get more predictable than Jake Mangum tearing it up the plate.

The hint of sarcasm in that last post is warranted given how MLB organizations have viewed Mangum up until now. Despite fantastic production in minor league ball and showing out in spring training, there'd been a reluctancy to give him the call-up because he doesn't fit the mold of a "modern hitter" by the MLB's standards.

That's all hogwash. If a guy can play, he can play. And Jake Mangum can play with the best of them. Mangum's former teammate Tanner Allen hasn't shied away from criticizing analytics' role in today's game, specifically with how they hurt a player like Mangum's chances at ever making it.

You've got to look beyond the numbers. In Allen's words "a computer cannot tell you how much heart someone has in them."

Guys like Jake deserve to get their chance. His play more than justified him getting this shot a long time ago. It's unfortunate it took this long, but at least the time did finally come. As legendary Mississippi sports writer Rick Cleveland put it, it was "about damned time."