Samford outfielder Colton Ledbetter went 2 for 3 with a walk and scored twice in a May 10 win over Mississippi State in his hometown of Hoover, Alabama.
Less than a month later, Ledbetter pledged to join the team he had helped defeat.
The 6-foot-1 sophomore exited the transfer portal by committing to Mississippi State on Wednesday, bolstering an MSU outfield in need of offense.
Ledbetter hit .318 with 16 home runs, 57 RBIs and a .640 slugging percentage, leading Samford in OPS with a 1.047 mark in 2022. He hit .271 in limited playing time as a freshman the year before.
The Spain Park High School product was also successful on the bases, stealing 14 bags in 17 attempts this season.
His combination of power and speed will give him an excellent shot to replace left fielder Brad Cumbest in Starkville. Cumbest, a senior, appears headed for the MLB draft.
The Bulldogs will also lose catcher Logan Tanner, while several other hitters are draft eligible, including third baseman Kamren James and first baseman Luke Hancock.
Mississippi State finished 26-30 in 2022, going 9-21 in Southeastern Conference play and missing the SEC and NCAA tournaments.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
