OXFORD — Ole Miss star pitcher Hunter Elliott — the Tupelo native who helped lead the Rebels to the College World Series title in 2022 — announced Thursday on social media he will return for the 2025 season. Elliott was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 20th round of the MLB Draft earlier this month.
The 6-foot-3 lefty pitched in just two games in 2023 and did not play in 2024 due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.
After starring at Tupelo High School, Elliott dazzled as a freshman for Ole Miss in 2022. He began his college career in the bullpen but eventually went on to start 12 games his first season. He finished with a 5-3 record and 2.70 ERA while recording 102 strikeouts. His emergence as the season progressed — along with fellow pitcher Dylan DeLucia’s — helped propel the Rebels to an NCAA Tournament berth and subsequent run to Omaha.
Elliott surrendered four combined earned runs in four postseason starts, striking out 28 batters over 25.1 innings. His 7.1 inning, 10-strikeout shutout in Hattiesburg against Southern Miss in the clinching game of the Super Regional propelled Ole Miss to its first College World Series since 2014. Elliott started two games in the College World Series and surrendered three earned runs in 13 innings of work. He started the clinching game of the championship series against Oklahoma, striking out six batters in 6.2 innings.
Elliott began his sophomore season as the Rebels’ undisputed Friday-night starter. He took the mound for the season opener against Delaware on Feb. 17, 2023 and struck out nine batters over five innings with two earned runs allowed. Elliott did not pitch in another game for more than two months, however, due to a sprained UCL. He started against LSU in April but lasted just one inning and 49 pitches. He underwent Tommy John surgery that May.
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