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Mississippi State baseball adds powerful batter from mid-major ranks

Over the weekend, Mississippi State baseball landed their first transfer of the off-season.

ByAndrew Miller|
Jun 14, 2019; Omaha, NE, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Chris Lemonis watches his team during practice day before the start of the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2019; Omaha, NE, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Chris Lemonis watches his team during practice day before the start of the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports | Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Mississippi State baseball saw its season come to an end just over a week ago. The Diamond Dawgs won a pair of games over St. John's in the Charlottesville regional, but they fell twice at the hands of the Virginia Cavaliers to be eliminated.

The 2024 season was a good step forward for Mississippi State. After consecutive seasons of failing to even reach the SEC Tournament, the Bulldogs were a Top-25 team nationally, finished fifth in the SEC with 17 conference wins, returned to a regional, and won 40 games overall.

To a large extent, Chris Lemonis managed to right the ship in Starkville, and over the weekend, he landed the first important piece to keep things moving along in 2025.

Transfer third-baseman Gehrig Frei commits to Mississippi State baseball

The Diamond Dawgs landed their first transfer of the offseason on Saturday with the commitment of former North Alabama third-baseman Gehrig Frei.

Frei was a star-hitter for the Lions in 2024. He led the team in the majority of offensive categories, batting .320 with 66 hits, 15 home runs, and 49 RBI with an on-base percentage of .420 and an OPS of 1.017.

The third-baseman set program records for UNA in home runs, RBI, and total bases. Frei was selected to the All-ASUN 3rd Team this season after being an ASUN All-Freshman selection in 2023.

Frei gives State much-needed production to the lineup

While 2024 was a positive step forward for MSU baseball, getting consistent production at the plate was an issue. And now, most of State's best hitters are gone. Though a few solid bats may return, minimal offensive production returns, and those who realistically might return aren't power hitters.

Gehrig Frei fills some important needs for the Diamond Dawgs in 2025. With Logan Kohler gone, they need a starting third-baseman. They also need some pop at the plate, and Frei, who slugged at .597 this season, provides that as well.

Chris Lemonis is going to have to go hard in the portal to reload Mississippi State baseball, and this was a good start to the process.

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