LOOK: Ole Miss baseball kicks off championship defense with first practice of 2023

The Ole Miss baseball team got the 2023 season and its national championship defense started on Friday with the first official spring practice. Over the next three weeks the Rebels will hold scrimmages to fine tune and nail down a opening day lineup.

Having climbed the mountain and won the program’s first national title last June brings a different feel to the season. Ole Miss is now the hunted while still trying to be the hunter and going for a return trip to Omaha and the Men’s College World Series.

Shaking off the the afterglow of last season’s success does not appear it will be much of a challenge with how Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco and players were handling themselves during Friday’s media day.

One easy way to shift the focus fully on this season is the fact Ole Miss is bringing back pitchers who played in 50 percent of the innings played in Omaha and a wealth of offensive production is back, including second baseman Peyton Chatagnier.

“I feel great about this group. This is a really fun group,” Chatagnier said. “People think we are young team but we’re really not that young. We’ve got a lot of experienced guys whether it’s experience here or another school. It was just cool to see the excitement a lot of guys had. Like asking us questions about Omaha. They want to be there, so I’m excited. I can’t wait.”

Chatagnier was mic’d up during Ole Miss’ first practice. Watch some highlights in the first ‘The Season’ episode of the 2023 baseball campaign below courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Production.

Take a look at some photos from Ole Miss’ first day of spring practice and media day below. Photos provided by courtesy of Bruce Newman.