The Mississippi State baseball team officially lost its best starter and best reliever for the season Monday, dealing a blow to a Bulldogs team that has struggled early on.
Right-handed pitchers Landon Sims and Stone Simmons both suffered torn ulnar collateral ligaments in the Bulldogs’ series at Tulane, each player confirmed on social media Monday within minutes of each other.
Sims suffered his injury March 4, and Simmons was hurt on March 5. Both MSU pitchers are out for the season and will undergo Tommy John surgery this week.
Sims, a draft-eligible third-year sophomore, said his injury could mark the end of his career in Starkville.
“Although this is not the way I want my season and possibly Bulldog career to end, I know that it is part of a bigger plan that sometimes might be hard to understand, but I know I will always find myself going down the path I am supposed to be on,” Sims wrote.
Sims was working on 3 2/3 perfect innings and had struck out 10 of the 11 hitters he faced against the Green Wave before injuring his arm on a pitch to Bennett Lee. He was removed from the game and sat in the dugout, holding his head in his hands before pulling his jersey over his face.
Former Mississippi State great Will Clark later said on a radio broadcast Sims told Clark he felt a pop in his elbow, consistent with the ligament tear Sims confirmed Monday.
The Georgia native was in his first year as part of the Bulldogs’ starting rotation after moving out of the closer role. Sims struck out 100 batters in 56 1/3 innings in 2021 and helped Mississippi State capture its first national title.
He finished his 2022 season with a 1.15 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.
Should he leave school early, Sims still has a chance to be a high pick in this summer’s draft despite his injury. Last season, for example, Ole Miss starter Gunnar Hoglund underwent Tommy John and was the 19th overall pick in the draft.
“I cannot thank every single person enough that has shown me love, prayers and appreciation over the past few weeks,” Sims said. “I owe everything to this University and city.”
Simmons hurt himself on his final pitch against Tulane, closing out a dominant eighth inning with the Bulldogs leading 10-8. Mississippi State lost the game 11-10, and questions arose about why Simmons didn’t get a chance to finish the contest.
But the Furman transfer’s statement Monday cleared that up. Simmons said he will undergo Tommy John surgery Wednesday.
“I am sorry I can no longer help my team on the field this year, but I will shift my focus to being the best teammate I can be,” Simmons said.
He finished his 2022 season without allowing a run in 4 1/3 innings, striking out six. The Bulldogs’ most reliable reliever, Simmons will be missed at the back end of the bullpen.
So will Sims in the weekend rotation, which currently comprises Preston Johnson, Parker Stinnett and Cade Smith.
After hosting Binghamton on Monday, Mississippi State will open Southeastern Conference play against No. 20 Georgia on Friday in Athens, Georgia.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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