Photo by: Mike Mattina/MSU Athletics
Rosters Revealed For 2026 Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic
October 16, 2026 | Baseball
STARKVILLE - Mississippi State Baseball is once again set to celebrate its storied history on Nov. 6 in the Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic powered by State 1878.
Over 50 former Bulldog legends will return to Dudy Noble Field to participate in the alumni game for the second straight year. Team Thunder coached by Mitch Moreland will go head-to-head with Team Lightning managed by Jonathan Papelbon.
Both Moreland and Papelbon are former MLB All-Stars and World Series champions and served as team captains during last year's game. Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro, the two namesakes of the two teams, managed during the inaugural game and will serve as general managers this year.
The SEC's all-time hit king and current Pittsburgh Pirate Jake Mangum will captain Team Thunder while former National Player of the Year and Banana Ball favorite Tanner Allen captains Team Lightning.
Four-time MLB Manager of the Year Nat "Buck" Showalter is scheduled to throw out the first pitch that evening.
Moreland and Papelbon handpicked their respective teams via a live draft earlier this week. Among the players participating in this year's game are 16 former MLB players, 45 players who have either played or are currently playing professionally, 32 College World Series participants, 16 All-Americans, seven MLB All-Stars, six national champions, six first round draft picks and a pair of World Series champions.
Of the 40 players set to take the field in the Diamond Dawg Classic, 31 are or have played professionally. Joining Mangum are former big leaguers Hunter Renfroe, Tyler Moore and Craig Tatum.
Even the coaching staff are star-studded and loaded with MLB talent. Jeff Brantley, Bobby Thigpen, Ed Easley, Scott Clark and Trent Intorcia are members of Moreland's staff while Papelbon's coaches include Paul Maholm, Jay Powell, Jonathan Holder, Konnor Pilkington and Wes Rea.
Last year, a crowd of 10,172 fans flocked back in the fall for the Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic to watch Renfroe outslug Moreland in a swing off to win it for Palmeiro's Team Lightning after the seven-inning game ended in an 8-8 tie.
Tickets for the Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic are on sale now.
Team Thunder
Manager: Mitch Moreland
General Manager: Will Clark
Assistant Coaches: Ed Easley, Jeff Brantley, Bobby Thigpen, Scott Clark, Trent Intorcia
Captain: OF Jake Mangum
RHP Jacob Billingsley
RHP Ben Bracewell
OF Cody Brown
OF Brad Corley
2B Scotty Dubrule
OF Jeff Flagg
RHP Cole Gordon
1B Hunter Hines
RHP Zac Houston
OF Reid Humphreys
SS David Mershon
1B Tyler Moore
LHP Luis Pollorena
C Joe Powell
RHP Spencer Price
C Dustin Skelton
RHP Blake Smith
3B Nick Vickerson
OF Jake Vickerson
Team Lightning
Manager: Jonathan Papelbon
General Manager: Rafael Palmeiro
Assistant Coaches: Jonathan Holder, Konnor Pilkington, Jay Powell, Wes Rea, Paul Malholm
Captain: OF Tanner Allen
2B Jet Butler
C Marshall Gilbert
SS Ryan Gridley
C Luke Hancock
OF Grant Hogue
RHP Keegan James
RHP Devin Jones
OF Rowdey Jordan
2B Amani Larry
C Johnny Long
LHP Ross Mitchell
3B Jarrod Parks
RHP Peyton Plumlee
1B Connor Powers
OF Hunter Renfroe
RHP Brandon Smith
C Craig Tatum
LHP Vance Tatum
RHP Colby White
ย
Over 50 former Bulldog legends will return to Dudy Noble Field to participate in the alumni game for the second straight year. Team Thunder coached by Mitch Moreland will go head-to-head with Team Lightning managed by Jonathan Papelbon.
Both Moreland and Papelbon are former MLB All-Stars and World Series champions and served as team captains during last year's game. Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro, the two namesakes of the two teams, managed during the inaugural game and will serve as general managers this year.
The SEC's all-time hit king and current Pittsburgh Pirate Jake Mangum will captain Team Thunder while former National Player of the Year and Banana Ball favorite Tanner Allen captains Team Lightning.
Four-time MLB Manager of the Year Nat "Buck" Showalter is scheduled to throw out the first pitch that evening.
Moreland and Papelbon handpicked their respective teams via a live draft earlier this week. Among the players participating in this year's game are 16 former MLB players, 45 players who have either played or are currently playing professionally, 32 College World Series participants, 16 All-Americans, seven MLB All-Stars, six national champions, six first round draft picks and a pair of World Series champions.
Of the 40 players set to take the field in the Diamond Dawg Classic, 31 are or have played professionally. Joining Mangum are former big leaguers Hunter Renfroe, Tyler Moore and Craig Tatum.
Even the coaching staff are star-studded and loaded with MLB talent. Jeff Brantley, Bobby Thigpen, Ed Easley, Scott Clark and Trent Intorcia are members of Moreland's staff while Papelbon's coaches include Paul Maholm, Jay Powell, Jonathan Holder, Konnor Pilkington and Wes Rea.
Last year, a crowd of 10,172 fans flocked back in the fall for the Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic to watch Renfroe outslug Moreland in a swing off to win it for Palmeiro's Team Lightning after the seven-inning game ended in an 8-8 tie.
Tickets for the Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic are on sale now.
Team Thunder
Manager: Mitch Moreland
General Manager: Will Clark
Assistant Coaches: Ed Easley, Jeff Brantley, Bobby Thigpen, Scott Clark, Trent Intorcia
Captain: OF Jake Mangum
RHP Jacob Billingsley
RHP Ben Bracewell
OF Cody Brown
OF Brad Corley
2B Scotty Dubrule
OF Jeff Flagg
RHP Cole Gordon
1B Hunter Hines
RHP Zac Houston
OF Reid Humphreys
SS David Mershon
1B Tyler Moore
LHP Luis Pollorena
C Joe Powell
RHP Spencer Price
C Dustin Skelton
RHP Blake Smith
3B Nick Vickerson
OF Jake Vickerson
Team Lightning
Manager: Jonathan Papelbon
General Manager: Rafael Palmeiro
Assistant Coaches: Jonathan Holder, Konnor Pilkington, Jay Powell, Wes Rea, Paul Malholm
Captain: OF Tanner Allen
2B Jet Butler
C Marshall Gilbert
SS Ryan Gridley
C Luke Hancock
OF Grant Hogue
RHP Keegan James
RHP Devin Jones
OF Rowdey Jordan
2B Amani Larry
C Johnny Long
LHP Ross Mitchell
3B Jarrod Parks
RHP Peyton Plumlee
1B Connor Powers
OF Hunter Renfroe
RHP Brandon Smith
C Craig Tatum
LHP Vance Tatum
RHP Colby White
ย
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
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