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Mississippi State

Mississippi State lands another former Virginia commit in 2026 OF Michael Hanna

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk07/17/25RobbieFaulkOn3
michael hanna
Photo courtesy of Michael Hanna, Instagram

Brian O’Connor continues to build his future baseball classes around some familiar faces.

Having already brought in three other players from Virginia’s 2026 class, the coach landed another on Thursday. Oradell, NJ OF Michael Hanna committed to the Diamond Dawgs and is set to sign with Mississippi State in November, a source told Maroon and White Daily.

The 6’0, 165-pound lefty bat has been one of the top hitters in the state of New Jersey baseball circuit over the last two years. This past season, he was also named First-Team All-State in New Jersey by NJ.com playing for his Don Bosco High School team. His recorded 101 mph exit velocity is among the hardest hit balls from underclassmen in the state.

Hanna has been committed to Virginia but opened things up after O’Connor and his staff left for State. He visited Starkville on Wednesday and made a decision to come play for the Diamond Dawgs.

This is the fifth high school player that was committed to Virginia that ultimately flipped to State already. Four of those hail from the 2026 class as Hanna joins C Hunter Strohm, fellow New Jersey native SS Noah Danza and RHP Daniel Nienaber. Flamethrowing LHP Jack Bauer also flipped from Virginia in the 2025 class and turned down the MLB Draft to come to school. Bauer enrolled in classes in Starkville this week.

O’Connor has also had five players transfer in from UVA as incoming sophomores LHP Tomas Valincius, OF James Nunnallee, RHP William Kirk and MIF Chone James transferred along with junior OF Aidan Teel.  

Hanna wasn’t the only good news for O’Connor and company on Thursday afternoon. The Diamond Dawgs also brought in a talented RHP in East Central Community College’s Chris Billingsley. The Warrior pitcher was up to touching 98 mph this season.

Billingsley helped lead the Warriors to the semifinals at the JUCO World Series when he finished 9-4 in 18 appearances with 76.1 innings, 52 hits, 46 walks and 92 strikeouts. He averaged 10.85 strikeouts per nine innings.

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