MSU Baseball Recruiting Class Ranked Eighth

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Baseball America has ranked Mississippi State University's 2008-09 baseball recruiting class as the nation's eighth-best. The North Carolina-based publication announced its annual ranking Tuesday. The No. 8 ranking represents the second-highest such ranking for MSU by Baseball America and the highest ranking for a State baseball recruiting class since 2000.

"The strength of this recruiting class is the pitching," said second-year Mississippi State head baseball coach John Cohen. "We all know it's a big jump to go from high school competition to the Southeastern Conference, but we believe that this is a great start for us and that the future of our pitching is in good hands."

Twelve of Mississippi State's 20 signees pitch.

"I appreciate the recognition Baseball America has given this recruiting class and our Mississippi State staff," said Cohen. "Butch Thompson and Lane Burroughs did a remarkable job attracting this level of recruiting class, especially when you consider the limited time they had to develop relationships with these young men. It's usually a process that takes a lot longer."

Mississippi State's 20-player recruiting class, featuring 13 freshmen and seven junior college transfers, is the second-highest ranked recruiting class in the Southeastern Conference and among six from the SEC included in this year's ranking. Florida heads up this year's Baseball America ranking of recruiting classes. No. 8 Mississippi State is next, followed by No. 12 Ole Miss, No. 13 Vanderbilt, No. 14 Tennessee and No. 15 Kentucky.

Earlier this fall Collegiate Baseball newspaper, based in Tucson, Ariz., ranked the MSU recruiting class at No. 15. Collegiate Baseball ranked MSU's 2000 baseball recruiting class at No. 4, while State's only previous ranking by Baseball America was a No. 3 placement, also in 2000. Mississippi State's baseball recruiting classes have now been accorded top 10 status six times since 1983, including a No. 1 ranking in 1994.

The Baseball Bulldogs are two weeks into their fall baseball practice at Dudy Noble Field.

2009 BASEBALL AMERICA BASEBALL RECRUITING CLASS RANKINGS

1. Florida
2. Stanford
3. Arizona State
4. Texas Christian
5. Cal State Fullerton
6. Texas
7. North Carolina
8. Mississippi State
9. Virginia
10. Central Florida
11. North Carolina State
12. Mississippi
13. Vanderbilt
14. Tennessee
15. Kentucky
16. Oklahoma
17. Miami
18. Michigan
19. UCLA
20. Clemson
21. Rice
22. Oregon State
23. Missouri
24. Oregon
25. Louisville