Bulldog trio recognized as ALL-SEC
As a frustrating 2022 baseball season came to a close, Mississippi State still found itself represented by the Southeastern Conference as the yearly awards were announced on Monday.
RJ Yeager, Logan Tanner and Hunter Hines were each recognized by the conference as ALL-SEC members. Yeager was selected to the first-team ALL-SEC after his fantastic year following a transfer and fellow first year Bulldog Hines made the Freshman ALL-SEC list after producing one of the best freshman seasons for a power hitter in school history. Tanner earned second-team honors with a nod on the All-defensive team as well.
Following a standout career with Mercer, Yeager transferred to Starkville for his final year as a collegiate athlete and lived up to the billing as one of the most sought after transfers in the group last year. The second baseman got off to a rough start in the year batting .211 late in the non-conference slate and even losing his starting spot.
After that, Yeager was on fire. He finished the year leading the team in batting average (.317), doubles (15), home runs (18), RBI (56), slugging percentage (.668) and tied for hits (64). His home run total was the highest for a Bulldog since Brent Rooker won the Triple Crown in the SEC in 2017 with 23 long balls. Yeager's 14 SEC homers eclipsed the 12 from Rooker, however.
“He was a really good player when we got him, but I think he has improved and has gotten better,” MSU head coach Chris Lemonis said about Yeager. “If you look at his SEC numbers, they are unbelievable across the league. He's just a steady guy.”
Yeager finished the year sixth in the SEC in home runs and RBI. He had 22 multihit ball games and six times he had three hits.
It was a disappointing finish to the career for Tanner after he helped MSU to the national championship last year, but the catcher was still one of the best in the country behind the dish. He was as feared as anyone defensively as he threw out seven base runners this season and produced the most putouts in the conference at 458.
Offensively, Tanner hit .285 this season with 59 hits, eight doubles, seven home runs and 38 RBI. He had a .387 on-base percentage and walked 32 times, which was second on the team behind Luke Hancock's 36.
Hines was one of the most impressive freshmen in the SEC this season after leading the league in his class with his 16 home runs delivered. The Madison Central product was a starter from day one and produced big for the Bulldogs hitting .300 as a freshman with 63 hits, 13 doubles, a triple, 16 homers and 52 RBI.
His hits were second on the team and one back from the team lead, he was second in doubles and RBI as well only to Yeager. His 16 home runs not only led the team, they were tied for 10th in the SEC.