The 2023 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Mississippi.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Pearl, MS at Trustmark Park as they compete for a state championship, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Mississippi. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing other pieces of content covering the Magnolia State.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each MHSAA classification as well as a Power 25. 

*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.

High School Name: Madison Central High School

Coach’s Name: Patrick Robey 

Classification: MHSAA 6A 

2022 Record: 19-9

District Number: District 4 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 2 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 3 

Team Strengths: Returning Pitching

Top Returning Prospects:

• 3B/RHP Chase Russell (Southern Miss)
• RHP Matthew Birdsong (East Mississippi CC)
• RHP Thomas Nichols (Hinds CC)
• 1B Reed McCrillis
• SS Caleb Thompson (Blue Mountain)
• 3B Mason Winans (East Central CC)

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• SS Gavin Parrow
• C/3B Landon Deslatte
• RHP Ethan Corley
• C/3B Walker Robey
• OF Warren Hutchinson

Team Outlook:

Madison Central Head Coach Patrick Robey finds his program in a bit of a rebuilding phase heading into 2023. Two years removed from a National Championship and one of the best teams ever at the high school level, the Jaguars will be competitive this season and have solid some young prospects on the horizon. 

Top returning players include seniors Matthew Birdsong (RHP - EMCC recruit), Thomas Nichols (RHP/UT - Hinds CC recruit), Reed McCrillis (1B/RHP), and junior Chase Russell (RHP, 1B - Southern Miss recruit). Pitching should be a strength for the Jags and each of these players are arms Robey will count on heavily. McCrillis could be a sleeper as the big righty adds innings early on. 

Seniors Caleb Thompson (SS - Blue Mountain College recruit) and Mason Winans (3B - East Central CC) will look to add spark to the offense while holding down the left side of the infield. 

The Jaguars have a good group of underclassmen that should move them into state contenders over the next couple of seasons. Those players include Gavin Parrow (SS), Landon Deslatte (C/3B), Ethan Corley (RHP), Walker Robey (C/3B), and Walker Hutchinson (OF).

With several solid players and arms on this roster there’s a good chance Madison Central surprises a lot of people in 2023. 

 

Follow on Twitter: @PBR_Mississippi
Follow on Instagram: @PBRMississippi
Follow on Facebook: Prep Baseball Report - MS

 

 

Related Content: