On Monday, June 29, a couple of Mississippi State players stood out as the USA Collegiate National Team played the MLB Draft Appalachian League All-Stars.
Here is a look at what these players did yesterday in Cary, N.C.
Tomas Valincius and Jacob Parker Stand Out on June 29 for Team USA
In the first game of the doubleheader for Team USA and the Appalachain League All-Stars on June 29, Mississippi State left-handed pitcher Tomas Valincius started on the mound.
He struck out three opposing hitters and allowed no runs in two innings of work.
In 2026, Valincius transferred to Mississippi State and followed his head coach, Brian O’Connor, to Starkville from the Virginia Cavaliers. During his sophomore season with the Bulldogs, he had an 11-2 record with a 3.50 ERA in 97 2/3 innings. Over that same stretch, he had 134 strikeouts and just 20 walks.
He was top five in the country in strikeouts and was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2026 as well.
Another Mississippi State player made an impact in the second game Team USA played against the Appalachain League All-Stars. Jacob Parker hit a home run in the second inning of a 9-3 win for the Collegiate National Team.
Jacob Parker goes yard! ????
411 feet. 103 mph off the bat.@Parker13Jake x @HailStateBB pic.twitter.com/wNkl5Zj0Hp
— USA Baseball CNT (@USABaseballCNT) June 29, 2026
Parker was selected in the 19th round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of Purvis High School in Mississippi. However, he put together a crazy season for the Mississippi State Bulldogs instead.
He had a .339 batting average with 10 doubles, 18 home runs, and 62 RBIs. Parker also had an on-base percentage of .449 this past season. He was a part of the SEC’s 2026 All-Freshman team.
Mississippi State 2026 season results
Valincius and Parker both were huge parts of Mississippi State’s successful first season under Brian O’Connor. The Bulldogs finished 2026 with a 43-19 overall record. They were 16-14 in SEC play and hosted a regional at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville.
Upon winning their regional, Mississippi State advanced to a super regional for the first time since 2021. They lost to the Georgia Bulldogs in the Athens super regional.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: Mississippi State pitcher Tomas Valincius (4) pitches against Hofstra during an NCAA baseball game on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
