Perfect Game released their preseason lists of the top 100 freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors in college baseball, and three Ole Miss Rebels, senior Sikes Orvis, juniors Sean Johnson and Jacob Waguespack, and sophomores J.B. Woodman made the cut.
Orvis, a three-year letterman out of Orlando, Florida, was the No. 32-ranked senior after a breakout junior campaign. After batting .232 and .237 in his freshman and sophomore years respectively, and a combined four home runs and 32 RBI, Orvis made great strides toward with a .316 average, 11 home runs and 34 RBI. The power-hitting first baseman/designated hitter was a big reason for the Rebels run in Omaha. His best performance coming in an elimination game victory over TCU, going 3-5 with a double and two RBI.
Johnson came in at No. 91 on the list. The 6’7 righty has yet to suit up in a Rebel uniform, but the transfer from Iowa Western Community College figures to play a major role for the pitching staff. The Durango, Colorado native helped lead the Reivers to the 2014 national championship by going 10-1 with 88 strikeouts and just 16 walks in 75 innings.
Waguespack, a hard-throwing right-hander from Prairieville, Louisiana, was No. 77 on the junior list. One of the elite high school prospects in Louisiana, Waguespack came to Oxford with a lot of hype. Now with the departures of numerous upperclassman, he will be asked to shoulder a larger load for the pitching staff. In 2014 he posted a 1-0 record with a 4.15 ERA in seven appearances.
Woodman was the highest-ranked of the four as the No. 12 sophomore in the nation. A New York Mets draftee out of high school, Woodman burst onto the scene as a true freshman last year. The five-tool outfielder hit .308 with five extra-base hits and nine stolen bases.
The Rebels open the 2015 season on Feb. 13 against William & Mary.
Michael Quirk is a HottyToddy.com staff reporter and can be reached at michael.quirk@hottytoddy.com.
