Ole Miss lands Illinois State slugger Daniel Pacella, third portal pick-up in three days

Ole Miss baseball on Saturday continued its run on commitments from the NCAA Transfer Portal. 

The Rebels secured their third pledge in three days in Illinois State outfielder Daniel Pacella, a first-team All-MVC selection. Pacella started all 56 games in left field for the Redbirds last season. He totaled 59 RBI, the seventh-most in a single season in program history, and led the team with a .355 batting average.

Pacella had 41 extra-base hits, including 20 home runs, the second-most in a single season for a Redbird. He finished second all-time at Illinois State in career home runs (45) and RBI (169). He was a back-to-back all-conference honoree.

Pacella, depending on the outcome of the MLB Draft, will likely slides in for Ryan Moreman, a one-year transfer from Illinois. Moerman was a middle-of-the-order regular for the Rebels. Ole Miss won 43 games last season and hosted a Regional for the first time since 2021. The Rebels fell just one game short of their first Super Regional in Oxford since 2009.

They’ve been active in the portal, though their first commitment didn’t come until Thursday. Ole Miss signed Grand Canyon left-handed pitcher Grant Richardson, a candidate for the weekend rotation next season. Richardson visited Ole Miss last weekend.

The Rebels next scooped up Clemson outfielder Tristan Bissetta Saturday morning. Bissetta was injured in May, cutting his 2025 season short. He appeared in 31 games and hit .227 with a .358 on-base percentage. Bissetta scored 13 runs on 17 hits with 16 RBI and 15 walks. He struck out 28 times. 

Bissetta had a .511 slugging percentage for the Tigers in 2024.

He hit .298 with seven homers and 34 RBI.

The left-handed-hitting Bissetta has posted a .286 career average and .487 career slugging. He slugged .556 last summer during a stint in the Cape Cod League.

Ole Miss is losing all three members of its starting outfield, which was made up entirely of first-year transfers in Moerman, Isaac Humphrey (Louisville) and Mitch Sanford (UNO). The Rebels have had six portal departures, but catcher Campbell Smithwick was the only player the Rebels attempted to retain. 

Ole Miss has interest in USC Upstate right fielder Scott Campbell and NIU catcher Logan Gregorio. Campbell was a two-time JUCO first-team All-Conference selection. Last season he slashed .388/.498/.622. and totaled 73 hits, 71 runs, 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 54 RBI and 21 stolen bases.

Gregorio would pair with returner Austin Fawley. Fawley finished second on the team last season in home runs (21) behind only Judd Utermark (22). Utermark is currently trending to return, as is slugger Will Furniss, among others.

The Rebels are in active negotiations with Hayden Federico, who’d like to be a Top 4 NIL earner on the team. Pacella chose Ole Miss over in-state rival Mississippi State, LSU and others.

Ole Miss would, obviously, like to bring back star third baseman Luke Hill, too.

Hill, however, is expected to go high enough to sign in next month’s MLB Draft. Ace pitcher Hunter Elliott is another candidate to return, but is leaning towards the draft. Veteran RHP will go through the draft process as well.

Ole Miss engaged with Jacksonville transfer outfielder Jaden Bastian, but he’s off to Florida. The Rebels were involved with Vanderbilt RHP Ethan McElvain. He’s headed to to Arkansas. 

One-time target Nate Savoie, the Loyola Marymount right fielder, committed to Clemson. ETSU RHP Brady Frederick, the SoCon Pitcher of the Year, was another name to know. He announced for Tennessee earlier this week.

Ole Miss is hot after Missouri LHP Wil Libbert. Libbert is again spending his summer in the Cape. He’s with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks and set to start against Wareham Saturday evening. 

Target Danny Lachenmayer, a LHP from North Dakota State and All-Summit League first-team selection, settled on North Carolina. Libbert is coming off his redshirt freshman season and threw more innings (53.2) than any Mizzou pitcher. He started 11 of his 14 total appearances and ended the year with a 6.04 ERA and 3-4 record.

South Carolina LHP Jackson Soucie got into the portal on Friday. He was 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA last season. He had 32 strikeouts in 30.0 innings.

OLE MISS DEPARTURES

• Riley Maddox – Pitcher
• Luke Cheng – shortstop
• Mitchell Sanford – outfielder
• Ryan Moerman – outfielder
• Connor Spencer – pitcher
• Mason Nichols – pitcher
• Isaac Humphrey – outfielder
• Alex Canney – pitcher
• Jackson Miller – outfielder (transfer portal)
• Tyler Acevedo – infielder (transfer portal)
• Cole Ketchum – pitcher (transfer portal)
• Hudson Mattox – pitcher (transfer portal)
• Connor Chisolm – outfielder (transfer portal)
• Campbell Smithwick – catcher (transfer portal)

ADDITIONS

• Grant Richardson – pitcher (Grand Canyon)
• Tristan Bissetta – OF (Clemson)
• Daniel Pacella – OF (Illinois State)