Arizona State shortstop Luke Hill officially visited Ole Miss over the weekend
After the conclusion of the 2023 MLB Draft, Ole Miss and head coach Mike Bianco were hit hard. Top 60 prospect Cooper Pratt was snatched up by the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth round and University of Tampa transfer JD Urso is expected to forego his plan of transferring to Ole Miss and sign a pro contract this week. So now what?
Well, Jacob Gonzalez was drafted by the Chicago White Sox with the 15th overall pick. And TJ McCants and Tim Simay have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Duke transfer Andrew Fischer is expected to play third base in 2024 so Bianco and the Rebels are still searching for the missing piece in the middle infield.
The elusive cog in the wheel might have been in town over the weekend. Former Arizona State infielder Luke Hill was on an official visit in Oxford, Miss., and is nearing a decision.
The freshman from Baton Rouge, La., is an electric athlete. In his lone season in Tempe, Ariz., he hit .317 with six home runs and 42 runs batted in. He slugged .456 and had an on-base percentage of .389 in 54 games. The All Pac-12 Honorable Mention selection had an .852 OPS, 23 walks, 11 doubles and only struck out 42 times in 204 at-bats. The newest Rebel also fielded at a .938 clip for the Sun Devils.
The former Episcopal (La.) standout was the 2nd-ranked shortstop and No. 4 prospect in Louisiana in the 2022 class. As a senior, the Knights finished 21-10 and made it to the Division III state semifinals. Hill hit 11 home runs and over .500 at the dish.
ASU infielder Luke Hill (7) throws out a runner at first base against Oregon State at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on April 21, 2023.
Sources tell OMSpirit the weekend went well and Ole Miss is in a “strong position” to add Luke Hill.
The Rebels need a surge of juice into the lineup after a lackluster 2023 season. The Rebels were bad all around last season. And just lost two of its best bats in Gonzalez and Kemp Alderman, who also went in the first round. Hill is a player who not only make the plays in the field, but has plenty of pop for the middle of the order.
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