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Ole Miss catcher Austin Fawley announces return for 2026 season

11by: Jake Thompson07/14/25JakeThompsonOn3
NCAA Baseball: NCAA Oxford Regional-First Round Mississippi at Murray State
Jun 1, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels catcher Austin Fawley (24) hits a home run during the second inning against the Murray State Racers. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The first day of the MLB Draft was favorable to Ole Miss but Monday’s second day will probably not be as kind, but the Rebels still got confirmation on good news from a current player.

Catcher Austin Fawley announced he is returning for a second year in Oxford and will be behind home plate come February for the 2026 season.

Maybe a foregone conclusion but in this current climate of NIL and the transfer portals nothing is a given anymore.

In his first season at Ole Miss after transferring in from Kentucky Fawley hit .256 at the plate. He finished 2025 with 53 runs batted in, 21 home runs and six doubles off 45 hits. The strikeout to walk ratio is something that will need to improve after Fawley drew 33 free passes to 77 strikeouts.

Behind the plate Fawley threw out four out of 37 players who attempted to steal a base on him. He also induced one double play.

The Rebels retaining the services of Fawley is a positive development after the depature of Campbell Smithwick. The Oxford High School standout hit the portal last month and committed to Oklahoma State.

Fawley returning is part of a core group of veterans Ole Miss is working to retain for 2026 if the MLB Draft does not play a major factor in it. Will Furniss and Judd Utermark are others in that group.

“The fact they still want to come back says a lot to me,” Illinois State transfer Daniel Pacella told the Ole Miss Spirit this week. “These guys produced [and] have draft risk but they’re like, ‘No, I want to be here. This is where my home is.’ That was really impressive to me, and it kind of really convinced me this is the place for me.”

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