When head coach Mike Bianco announced the starting rotation for opening weekend, it didn’t include any of Ole Miss’ starting pitchers from last year. Gone is reliable Saturday man Brady Feigl and hard-throwing righty James McArthur. Gone is Friday night ace Ryan Rolison, drafted in the first round by the Colorado Rockies.
Bianco’s rotation did, however, include another name called early in last year’s MLB Draft: Gunnar Hoglund. Taken 36th overall by the Pirates, the 18-year-old turned down close to $2 million in signing bonus to play ball in Oxford. When he takes the mound this Sunday against Wright State, it’ll be the first time Bianco has started a freshman on opening weekend since 2003.