Former UVA commit Michael Hanna couldn't turn down opportunity to play for Brian O'Connor

Michael Hanna was committed to Virginia for three years before everything changed last month.

The move that head coach Brian O’Connor made from Charlottesville to Starkville becoming Mississippi State’s next head baseball coach certainly put a kink in the plans for Hanna’s college career. New UVA coach Chris Pollard and his staff made their pitch to keep Hanna in the 2026 signing class, but he couldn’t stop thinking about the possibilities of playing for O’Connor and his staff.

“They mean a lot,” Hanna said of the State staff. “They do a lot for me. They always try to do their best to make me feel comfortable. I’ve talked to coach (Kevin) McMullan a bunch and he really cares about his players. My parents saw that they’re going to take care of me and that’s a big deal.”

Hanna gets eyes on Starkville, Mississippi State

With the relationship being what it was, the staff convinced Hanna and his family to make the trip down from New Jersey to Mississippi to see what State had to offer. Hanna had never been inside the Magnolia state so he wasn’t sure what to expect.

After spending part of this week taking everything the university and Dudy Noble Field had to offer, he realized that it was where he wanted to spend his college career. He committed to O’Connor for a second time on that trip and is now locked in with the Diamond Dawgs.

“The big part is the coaching staff and all of the people there. It really made it feel like a home away from home. The facilities were next level and I can really see myself playing there. I saw the inside and outside of the stadium and everything about it was incredible. There’s nothing like Mississippi State,” Hanna said.

“It really shocked me how well-maintained the campus was and it was really beautiful. I really saw how passionate everybody is for Mississippi State and the Bulldogs in the town, too. Every corner you walk there’s a Bulldog or something about Mississippi State on it and that’s a really awesome feeling knowing you have that kind of support.”

The 6’0, 165-pound outfielder bats from the left side and became an All-State performer this year for Don Bosco High School. He hits for power, but Hanna has also shown to be a tremendous athlete with a 6.6 60-yard dash.

As a player, he feels like he’s proving himself to be well-rounded both at the plate and in the field. But his speed on the basepaths is what could set him apart.

“If I get on base, I’ll be at third base quickly,” Hanna said. “I can produce doubles, triples and home runs, but I can impact the game in any situation. My base running has been my biggest improvement.”

State stacking New Jersey talent to roster

The new staff is quickly assembling a roster that’s got some Northeast flavor to it.

O’Connor has already pulled in two New Jersey natives from the transfer portal in former Virginia players OF Aidan Teel and LHP William Kirk. In the 2026 class, Hanna is joined by SS Noah Danza from the state.

It’s a state that is often unheralded when it comes to baseball and out of sight, out of mind for people in the South, but the talent it undeniable.

“The weather up here during the season is never great. You never have those perfect sunny days, so we have to stay inside a lot and it allows us to focus a lot on getting our bodies ready,” Hanna said of New Jersey prospects.  “In the offseason, I run a lot of track and stay in the cages and it has really helped me become the player that I am.”

Danza and Hanna  are joined by two other former UVA commits in the 2026 class in C Hunter Strohm and RHP Daniel Nienaber who have all gone through the same process. All four expected to play for the Cavaliers before having to make a tough decision of switching commitments, but they’re all ready for a new journey in Starkville.

For Hanna especially, he’s excited about coming south to start his college career. He’s got unfinished business for Don Bosco first, but helping State achieve big things is next on the agenda.

“Now that I’ve made my decision, I can just work towards the goal in my high school season of winning a state championship,” Hanna said. “Once that 2026 season comes around, I want to win a national championship. I’m excited to play for the Bulldogs and do big things down there.”