Jack Bauer’s Progress Could Be a Big Deal for Mississippi State, Scary for Opponents

A lot of things happened last summer to excite Mississippi State baseball fans.

Brian O’Connor was hired. Ace Reese decided to stay. One of the best transfer portal classes was assembled. And the highest-rated freshman to make it campus and not the pros chose Mississippi State.

Of all the excitement, Jack Bauer deciding to forgo the MLB and go to college was one of the biggest sources of excitement. If only for the thought of seeing the lefty hurl 100 mph pitches at Dudy Noble Field.

Bauer has done that this season a couple of times, but more importantly he has put together two great outings after a rocky start.

Last week against then-No. 11 Southern Miss, Bauer didn’t allow a baserunner for 1.1 innings and had one strikeout. On Tuesday against Grambling State, he pitched another perfect 1.1 innings, this time with three strikeouts.

Jack Bauer. Three batters. Three strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/tyjDWKq8nW
— Mississippi State Baseball (@HailStateBB) March 31, 2026

“I feel like over the past couple of weeks I’ve learned a lot more about my body and how to control it,” Bauer said after Tuesday’s game against the Tigers. “I’ve grown exponentially. Every time I go out there, I feel like I’m learning something new. It’s also great being able to learn from the other pitchers.”

Bauer has only five appearances this season as he adjusted to the new level of game. His first appearance was a little rough, giving up two runs on one hit and three walks and wild pitch against Troy. But he showed what can make him special with three strikeouts.

After an OK showing against Austin Peay (2 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 R), Bauer got rocked by Virginia Tech during the series at Globe Life Field. Against the Hokies, Bauer didn’t record an out and gave up three runs on three hits, including a home run.

But since then, Bauer hasn’t allowed a single baserunner. Part of that success can be attributed to learning how to be more “complete pitcher.”

“The focus isn’t always on velocity — it’s about pitchability, making pitches, and executing,” Bauer said. “The stuff is always going to be there for me, so I don’t need to force it. The focus is on execution.”

He also talked about improving his off-speed pitches.

Jack Bauer, who went viral last spring for hitting 103 mph in a high school game, made his debut for @HailStateBB yesterday. His Fastball was lethal, at 96-99, but what really stands out is his mid to high 80s slider that gets a ton of movement. At 127.5 Stuff+, it’s one of the… pic.twitter.com/2XfRmuOlkj
— Developing Baseball (@developbaseball) February 18, 2026

“It’s been great. I’ve learned a lot,” Bauer said. “My changeup has become a lot more consistent, which it wasn’t before. My slider has gotten harder and tighter.”

With two solid outings under his belt, it’ll be interesting to see how Bauer is used in the coming weeks. Will we see him in an SEC game soon? Maybe, but Bauer is handling it the right way.

“It’s about being the best version of myself every day,” Bauer said. “Even if I’m not pitching that day, I’m working on my mechanics, cheering on the other guys, and supporting them. As a staff, we’re at our best when everyone is at their best.”

This is what development looks like.

It’s not instant, and it’s not always smooth, but Bauer is settling in.

If these last two outings are a sign of what’s coming, Mississippi State might have something special on its hands as the games start becoming more and more important.