Transfer LHP Liam Doyle ‘has a chance to be special’ and could immediately slide into Ole Miss’ weekend rotation

Ole Miss baseball on Monday made headlines in officially landing decorated transfers Luke Hill (shortstop, Arizona State) and Jackson Ross (infielder, FAU). 

But don’t forget about Liam Doyle. 

The Rebels last week snagged Doyle — a transfer left-handed pitcher from Coastal Carolina. Doyle was one of the more coveted arms in the portal following a true-freshman season in which he served in a two-way role.

Doyle is a candidate for the Ole Miss weekend rotation. Same for Xavier Rivas. Rivas transferred to Ole Miss from the University of Indianapolis last off-season. He ended up starting a team-high 14 games and led Ole Miss in strikeouts (89), wins (5), opposing batting average (.248) and innings pitched (68.0).

“We got really fortunate with (returning Ole Miss slugger Ethan) Lege and Xavier Rivas in the draft,” Ole Miss hitting coach Mike Clement told the Spirit this week.

“They really pumped up their (signing) numbers because they felt like there was unfinished business here. (Ole Miss head) Coach (Mike) Bianco said to both of them, ‘If you loved it here, as bad as we were last year, it’s like going to Disney World and all the good rides are shut down.’

“Obviously you recruit those guys back, too, because they’re important.”

RELATED: Liam Doyle commits, as pieces to reworked roster continue to fall into place for Ole Miss baseball

Coastal Carolina transfer LHP Liam Doyle committed to Ole Miss last week

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Doyle is coming off a solid first season with the Chanticleers.

He had a 4.15 ERA over 56.1 innings and struck out 69. He walked 20, while opponents hit .206 against hime. Arguably his most impressive outing came in his first career quality start back in May. He held Marshall to two runs on two hits with five strikeouts over a career-high 7.0 complete innings.

Doyle could start or come out of the bullpen for Ole Miss. The Rebels last season finished second to last in the SEC in team ERA. They won all of six league games as a result, a year after they secured their first-ever national championship.

“Just about any power-conference program would want a talent like him on the roster,” Joe Healy, national college baseball analyst for D1Baseball, previously said of Doyle.

Other starting candidates include, but aren’t limited to, a pair of sophomores with tremendous upside in JT Quinn and Grayson Saunier, as well as transfer additions Connor Spencer (RHP, SELA) and Kyler Carmack (RHP, Arkansas State).

“The portal piece that probably got smoothed over that I think has a chance to be special is Liam Doyle,” Clement said. “I think it’s elite stuff. Top-of-the-rotation-type stuff. 

“You get Rivas back, who started every Friday and was fourth in the (SEC) in punch-outs. He’s only going to get better, too. I feel really good about where we’re at from a pitching and roster construction standpoint. 

“Our fans have reason to be excited.”

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