For decades, Southern Miss has built its identity on pitching. Since head coach Christian Ostrander first joined the program as pitching coach, the Golden Eagles have consistently developed arms capable of carrying them deep into the postseason. That reputation has become a calling card on the recruiting trail, convincing young pitchers this is the place to grow.
That tradition continues under Ostrander, who still considers himself a pitching coach at heart. Even with the addition of a new assistant, he insists he won’t step too far away from the bullpen.
“I will never not be a pitching coach in my career,” Ostrander said. “That’s one of my strengths, and I can’t walk away from it. I want [assistant coach Gunner Leger] to come in here and treat it like it’s his too, but we’re going to do it together. I think that’s the best of both worlds.”
A New Voice in the Bullpen
One of Ostrander’s first moves this summer was hiring Leger, a former All-American left-hander at Louisiana who also pitched professionally and served as a Division I pitching coach. Leger brings a calm presence and a strong grasp of analytics, complementing Ostrander’s passionate, animated style.
“He’s very knowledgeable and versed on the technology and the analytical things that we’ve been doing,” Ostrander said. “We’ve been doing it well, but I knew we could do it better. He’s also got great experience. He played professional baseball, left-handed, which is great for working with left-handed pitchers. It’s a good blend and good mix – we’re lucky to have him.”
That balance should benefit a staff that returns proven veterans and welcomes a wave of young arms from high school and junior college programs.
Freshman Arms
Southern Miss brought in a strong freshman class that Ostrander believes can contribute immediately.
RHP Cade Durbin was slow-played early due to minor arm fatigue but is structurally sound and expected to be ready by week two. Athletic and projectable, he profiles as a potential frontline arm down the road.
RHP Sam Mitchell works in the high 80s to low 90s with a sharp breaking ball that already profiles as a plus pitch. His changeup is a work in progress, but his presence and pitchability could earn him innings this year. Mitchell, originally committed to Louisiana, now brings depth to Southern Miss’ rotation mix.
LHP Andrew Visconti sits 88–90 mph with the ability to spin a breaking ball and is developing confidence in his changeup. Physical gains in the weight room have helped him round out his three-pitch mix.
LHP Bruce Littleton is among the highest-upside newcomers, sitting 90–93 with heavy spin. His size and strength stand out, and coaches believe he has pro-level potential.
Four other freshman arms – RHP Dylan Causey, LHP Cooper Waddle, RHP Camden Rogers and RHP Kevin Landry Farr – are expected to compete for bullpen roles. Each has shown flashes in early workouts, and Ostrander said their development this fall will determine how quickly they can contribute in the spring.
The entire freshman group benefitted from the six-week strength and conditioning program run by longtime trainer Todd Makovicka. Several players added as much as 15 pounds of muscle over the summer.
Transfer Arms
The transfer portal delivered three pitchers expected to make an impact.
Thomas Crabtree, a right-hander who pitched last year at Tennessee after starring at Pearl River Community College, brings polish and a four-pitch mix. Sitting 90–94 mph, Crabtree is considered a strike-thrower with multiple breaking ball shapes and a changeup.
“He’s just a game-manager type guy – you know what you’re going to get,” Ostrander said. “We wanted that.”
Jake Neely, a transfer from Arizona State, is less defined but carries intriguing upside. Coaches are still learning how he will fit into roles this fall.
“Where he falls and what role he can serve, we’ll learn more these next six weeks,” Ostrander said.
Camden Clark, a West Jones product who converted from catcher to pitcher at Pearl River, is considered a breakout candidate. His repertoire and late conversion have coaches excited about his ceiling.
Returners to Watch
Several returning pitchers are expected to take major steps this fall.
RHP Camden Sunstrom burst onto the scene last spring, earning national attention in the Hattiesburg Regional when he held Miami scoreless over 4 2/3 innings in an elimination game. Ostrander believes Sunstrom has the tools to make a significant sophomore jump and contend for a starting job.
LHP Graydon Harris threw more than 50 innings as a true freshman and is working to expand beyond his fastball-heavy arsenal. Adding a reliable off-speed pitch could elevate him into one of the league’s top arms.
RHP Josh Och, who struggled at times last season, has been working on a cutter with Leger. Coaches hope year three will bring consistency and production in high-leverage relief spots.
RHP McCarty English has battled injuries throughout his career but appears healthier and ready to handle more innings after limited action last season.
The Veteran Core
RHP Kros Sivley has logged more than 200 innings in his Southern Miss career, making him one of the most experienced arms in the program. His durability and versatility give the staff a proven option.
RHP Colby Allen adds nearly 150 innings of experience and is viewed as one of the team’s leaders. Coaches believe if Allen develops a reliable changeup to complement his fastball and slider, he could emerge as a true Friday-night starter.
“Getting Colby back is so important for those young arms,” Ostrander said. “To be able to say, watch that dude, watch how he goes about his business – that’s invaluable.”
Rehab and Development
Not every arm will be fully active this fall. RHP Drake Meeks, RHP Logan Pratt and RHP Chase Adams are on delayed timelines and will throw bullpens or face hitters in controlled settings. All three are expected to ramp up more seriously by November, with the goal of being ready for spring.
Southern Miss has no shortage of arms this fall. The program will lean on its veteran core while integrating a promising freshman class and impact transfers. Ostrander, who signed a new four-year contract this summer, sees the depth as a sign the program is well-positioned to keep contending.
“We’ve got some freshman arms, man, that I feel like the cupboard is going to stay full for several years,” he said. “We’ve been able to stack up good class after good class. Between that, the transfers we’ve added and the guys coming back, I feel very good about where we’re at.”
For Ostrander, the mission remains the same: build a pitching staff capable of carrying Southern Miss from February through June.
“I’m tired of being close,” he said. “I know we can do it. And that’s the motivation for me.”
