Andy Cannizaro, Mississippi State Bulldogs

Andy Cannizaro was named Mississippi State’s 17th head baseball coach on November 5, 2016, after former head coach John Cohen was named director of athletics at MSU. Prior to heading to Starkville, Cannizaro spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at LSU under Paul Mainieri. Cannizaro had an immediate impact on the Tigers’ offense with his dynamic ability to develop hitters and an aggressive base running approach. Before his time at LSU, Cannizaro served as a scout for the New York Yankees from 2009 through 2014. He evaluated and recruited amateur players in preparation for the major league draft. He also worked as the advance scout for the Yankees as they prepared for the 2011 and 2012 playoffs. Cannizaro was a four-year starter at shortstop at Tulane University from 1998 to 2001 and led the Green Wave to their first College World Series appearance during his senior year. He was a two-time All-America and a three-time All-Conference USA selection, and he holds Tulane’s all-time marks in several offensive categories, including hits (350), doubles (85) and stolen bases (128). Drafted by the Yankees in the seventh round in 2011, he played nine seasons in professional baseball, including stints with the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, where he played under legendary managers Joe Torre and Joe Maddon, respectively. In the podcast Cannizaro discusses his long-time desire to remain in the game and follow in his father’s footsteps by coaching. He inherits a young Mississippi State team that lost 10 players to the 2016 draft but has a talented roster that should be a factor in the Southeastern Conference after last year’s remarkable worst-to-first performance. Players to keep an eye on this season include All-America outfielder Jake Mangum, right fielder Brent Rooker, catch Elih Marrero and right-handed pitcher Ryan Rigby. Harrison Bragg, a transfer from Tacoma Junior College in Washington, could make an impact as well as a third baseman.