After missing 2024, Elliott returned to the mound this sping. He sat 90-92, touching 94, from a 5.2' release height. The change-up has heavy run and is his money pitch, with 22.5" of arm-side at 80 mph through his first 2 starts

Cade Townsend, a right-hander from the University of Mississippi, enters 2026 as one of college baseball's most electric arms. He now has a nasty five-pitch arsenal that includes a new sweeper to complement his pre-existing cutter, curveball, fastball, and changeup. Townsend features an elite cut-ride fastball at 93-96 mph with high spin rates and impressive carry, while his supinator tendencies allow him to manipulate the ball and create distinct shapes across multiple breaking pitches. Townsend's curveball may be among the best in college baseball, featuring extreme depth in the 83-85 mph range with exceptional bite, complemented by a sweeper that adds horizontal movement and a cutter that occasionally behaves like a gyro slider, giving him three different breaking ball looks to keep hitters off-balance. His upper-80s splitter flashes fade and potential as a fifth weapon, though it remains a work in progress compared to his more advanced offerings. The major question surrounding Townsend is whether he can handle a starter's workload after operating primarily out of the bullpen thus far in 2026. His high-effort delivery and inconsistent strike-throwing ability (5.29 BB/9) suggest he may need refinement to sustain his explosive stuff over extended outings, though his electric arsenal and bat-missing ability give him significant upside as either a potential mid-rotation starter or a dominant late-inning reliever if the command doesn't improve.

Tristan Bissetta has been one of the most remarkable stories in college baseball this spring. He is a senior transfer from Clemson who arrived at Ole Miss with a career .226 average and a history of injuries, and has turned his final collegiate season into a coming-out party that no one saw coming. He recovered from Tommy John surgery over the summer and had wrist surgery before the 2025 season, meaning the 2026 production is coming off a body that has been repeatedly tested. Through 93 plate appearances in 2026, he's slashing .412/.462/.859 with 11 home runs, while his barrel rate has jumped from 20.4% to 31.6%, his 90th exit velocity from 108.8 to 110.9, all while tightening his chase rate. The defining moment of his season thus far came against No. 2 Texas in the SEC opener, where he launched a 464-foot grand slam with two outs in the ninth to turn a 7-3 deficit into a lead, the kind of clutch performance that puts names on scouts' radars. The left-on-left vulnerability (40.0% K%) is a real red flag at the professional level, but the raw contact quality and the late-career trajectory make him a compelling look as an older power bat with something to prove.

Hill makes a ton of contact and has some of the best swing decisions in the class. He had a 62.3% Z-Swing-Chase%, ranking in the 99th percentile of qualified hitters in 2024. He’s not a power threat in the box, with a 107.5 mph max EV and a bat path not geared towards loft. The actions are solid at shortstop, with the athletic ability and arm strength to make it work long term. The case here is a shortstop defender who’s performing in the SEC, with a knack for finding his way on base.