Freshman Jacob Parker stood in the box, with an 0-1 count in the eighth inning. Mississippi State trailed 9-8.
With two outs, and junior Ace Reese standing on second, Parker represented State’s best chance to take its first lead in Game 2 of the super regionals. Georgia reliever Matt Scott threw a fastball, and Parker attacked.
With a sweet swing, Parker reached and got to the ball low in the zone. He barreled the ball to center field, took a moment to admire his work, and smiled as he strutted outside the box.
The freshman had his second no-doubter, this one the climax of a five-run comeback.
Everything about the home run, the pure swing in a clutch moment and the swagger to stare at the ball and smile as it took its ride beyond the batter’s eye, was far from what would be expected of a freshman.
His first home run, the third of back-to-back-to-back homers for the Bulldogs was more of the same. He caught a fastball, and sent it sailing behind the trees beyond the left-center-field wall. He stared the ball down, this time flipping his bat behind him as he walked down the first base line.
As a freshman, he was at the center of a huge moment in the game, and acted with a bit of warranted arrogance like he had been doing it for years.
Parker’s two bombs ultimately weren’t enough, as MSU fell 11-9 in 10 innings. He was the final out of the game, striking out with two runners on. But even in the down moment, Parker’s at bat still looked veteran.
Parker took a home run hack at an 0-1 breaking ball and got on top of it, sending it foul. He knew he missed it, but stayed composed, returning to the batters box with a smirk on his face. Parker took another big swing at the strikeout pitch, an elevated fastball on the outside corner. When he struck out, he leaned, almost falling to his knee before getting up and walking to the dugout with his head held high — veteran composure in likely his worst moment of the season.
“I’m proud of this guy,” head coach Brian O’Connor said, patting Parker on the back during the postgame press conference. “I know he hurts because the game ends with his at bat, but we wouldn’t be where we’re at without his and his teammates’ contributions.”
Parker played above his class all season. He started 44 games, and led the Bulldogs in OPS with a 1.181 mark. He had 18 home runs and 62 RBIs, marks second to only junior Ace Reese.
With Reese, a projected first-round pick, likely off to professional baseball, Parker looks to be the leader of State’s offense next season.
Parker said he was “terrible” in the fall, and credited redshirt-junior Aidan Teel to helping him grow as a player. He used the example to show that, even if he is the assumed leader now, there are a lot of guys on the roster who could take over the role.
“Gotta put the days in,” Parker said. “Every single day, there’s just guys ahead of me.”
Parker and sophomore Ryder Woodson are among the underclassmen who started Sunday and are set to return in 2027. Junior catcher Kevin Milewski is another with remaining eligibility who shined in the supers. He had three home runs over the two super regional games.
When Parker was asked about what he’ll remember most about his freshman season, he said it will be the memories he made.
“Success comes and goes, that’s baseball,” Parker said. “The memories off the field with my guys, it was such a fun group, such a fun year. There were so many fun moments and I can’t wait to do that again next year with the new group and create more memories.”
Jake is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for The Dispatch.
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