Skip to main content
Mississippi State
Join Now

RHP Daniel Nienaber marks third 2026 commitment from Virginia to Mississippi State

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk06/28/25RobbieFaulkOn3

Brian O’Connor has stated that the lifeblood of his program comes from high school recruiting and the coach has wasted no time in building his future classes in Starkville.

Mississippi State flipped its third 2026 recruit from Virginia’s class in the last three weeks as O’Connor secured a commitment from RHP Daniel Nienaber. One of the top pitchers in the state of Virginia, Nienaber plays for Glen Allen High School and had been committed to the Cavaliers since 2022.

Nienaber is an opposing figure on the mound with his 6’4, 200-pound frame. His fastball is climbing up the charts and was sitting 92-93 his junior season with a strong curveball and changeup developing behind it. He went 3-1 this season with Glen Allen with a 2.35 ERA while throwing 50.2 innings, surrendering 30 hits, 17 earned runs, 22 walks and he struck out 88 batters along the way.

Earlier this month, Nienaber accepted an invitation to Perfect Game’s National Showcase in Phoenix, Ariz., slated to take place in two weeks. He is considered PG’s No. 286 prospect in the country for the class of 2026.

Nienaber is State’s 10th commitment for the 2026 class and he joins four other pitchers in the class. The Bulldogs have already flipped C Hunter Strohm and SS Noah Danza from Virginia in that class. O’Connor also plucked, arguably, his top prospect in the 2025 class in LHP Jack Bauer who is a draft risk next month.

O’Connor has also pulled in 13 new transfer portal additions since taking the job in Starkville. Four of those transfers played for the Cavs last season.

You may also like