MSU program

A lifelong Mississippi State fan accomplished his dream of being a Diamond Dawg this week.

Mooreville High School right handed pitcher Jud Files made the decision to commit to his home state Bulldogs on Thursday night while he’s taking in a summer baseball showcase in Hoover, Ala. He’s playing with the East Coast Sox travel ball organization and has had a solid summer to this point.

“Very excited to announce that I have committed to play baseball at Mississippi State University,” Files posted on Twitter Thursday night. “I thank God, my family, my coaches and my teammates for all the support along the way. Come on 2023!”

At Mooreville, Files has been pitching for each of the last two seasons. He threw as an eighth grader last year and posted a 2-1 record in nine appearances with a 2.16 earned run average, 38 strikeouts and 11 walks in 35.2 innings.

This season as a freshman and in a abbreviated season, Files was 2-0 and had given up just two earned runs in 19.2 innings. He struck out 22 batters.

Files is the 10th member of that young 2023 class of players that are heading into their sophomore year of high school. That list includes Starkville High School standout Ethan Pulliam as well as several other Mississippi players like Hartfield Academy’s Brodey Walker, Brandon High School’s Jacob Keys, Jackson Prep’s Rives Reynolds, and Pascagoula’s Keilon Parnell.

MSU head coach Chris Lemonis also has eight Mississippians in the 2022 class. Both of the classes have primarily been recruited by Lemonis and his staff.