Mississippi State baseball is on a recruiting heater. The Diamond Dawgs have seen additions to both the 2026 and 2027 classes this week. The latest prospect to declare for Mississippi State is top-rated 2027 left handed pitcher Connor Salerno. A product of Sun Valley High School (NC), the talented southpaw opted for a roster spot in Starkville over multiple scholarship opportunities closer to home.
While the news of Salerno’s decision is just being made public, he was clearly a priority to the Mississippi State staff from the very beginning. The Bulldogs were among the very first to reach out and extend a scholarship offer.
“I think back on August 1st, they were like my second or third text,” Salerno shared. “After that, I just hit them up and set up a visit. The place just felt like home after the visit. I want on a couple of other visits, but I felt like Mississippi State was the right place for me.”
Mississippi State, North Carolina and Tennessee all had the pleasure of hosting Salerno and his family. The Bulldogs had Salerno as one of the honored guests for that first big baseball recruiting weekend in September when Bulldog football defeated Arizona State.
“It was just like a crazy environment,” Salerno said. “The cowbells are just a crazy thing. I don’t think I have ever heard a stadium that loud. It was great to be able to spend time with some of the current players there. I had the chance to talk with some of the freshmen and found out what their lives are really like. They told me what it was like in baseball practice and all of that stuff.”
Salerno is a product of the Eastern Time Zone, so he is well aware of Coach Brian O’Connor’s success at Virginia. In addition to that bit of knowledge, the 6-4, 225 pounder has a pre-existing relationship with Bulldog pitching coach Justin Parker.
“I feel like the relationships are really good,” Salerno said of the State staff. “I just feel like we have a great bond. The first thing for me is that I want to have a place that feels like a home to me. I want to have family right away. They took me in right away. Everyone was nice and that played a big part in my commitment.
“I am very pleased. Just knowing everything that they have done in the past with pitchers especially made a difference. Justin Parker is just a great guy. I have had a relationship with him for like two years now through Team U.S.A. Just being able to know him and getting to know Coach O’Connor was just great. I have an even better relationship with both of them now.”
It took some time for Salerno to work through the process, but the feeling he felt leaving Mississippi State lingered. Others did their best to make him feel important to them, but the Diamond Dawgs simply were the right fit.
“I would say I probably knew it was going to be them as soon as I got off the plane coming home from the visit,” Salerno shared. “I just felt like that was the place I wanted to be. It just felt like the right place.”
Salerno is already beginning to visualize what it will be like the first time he toes the rubber at Dudy Noble Field. With 15,000 fans there cheering him on to victory, Salerno believes he will feel right at home.
“I feel like I would have a lot of adrenaline going,” Salerno said. “It’s obviously a big crowd, but I feel like I will be loved, in a sense, by all of those fans. I just want to go out there and do my thing. I am ready to compete.”
With his decision now a matter of public record, Salerno is ready to just get back to the basics, school and high school ball. It has been fun to be recruited, but he is eager to simply be a dude again and chase a state title.
“It all feels good,” Salerno shared. “My parents, especially my mom, have pushed me to have good grades and do good in school. Obviously, spending more time in school helps me get better in the classroom. I am happy with my decision. It’s all kind of a relief.”