Who is Cade Townsend? Ole Miss pitcher vs Arizona State is top 2026 MLB Draft prospect

LINCON, NE — Ole Miss baseball pitcher Cade Townsend is getting the start with a chance to put the Rebels in an NCAA Tournament super regional.

Townsend will start for the Rebels (38-21) against Arizona State (39-20) in the Lincoln Regional final at Haymarket Park on May 31 (7 p.m., ESPNU)

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The Sun Devils beat regional host Nebraska earlier in the day to face Ole Miss. If Ole Miss loses, there will be a rematch for a winner-take-all game on June 1.

Townsend, a sophomore from Aliso Viejo, California, has been the typical No. 2 starter in Ole Miss' rotation behind veteran Hunter Elliott, but Townsend's arm is one of the best in the country.

Cade Townsend stats for Ole Miss baseball

Townsend is 5-3 with a 3.81 ERA over 13 starts with 81 strikeouts in 59 innings. Townsend has a lively arm with a fastball that sits at 96 mph and a curveball, slider, cutter and splitter.

Townsend will look to rebound from a rare rough start in his last time out. He allowed five earned runs in 3⅔ against Alabama in his last start on May 16.

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Cade Townsend MLB Draft projections in 2026

Townsend is likely the hear his name called quickly in the 2026 MLB draft.

He is ranked as the No. 21 prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft rankings, according to MLB.com.

On May 14, ESPN projected the New York Mets to draft Townsend with the No. 27 overall pick.

The MLB Draft is July 11-12 in Philadelphia.

Lincoln Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA Tournament

Friday, May 29

Game 1: Nebraska 4, South Dakota State 1

Game 2: Ole Miss 7, Arizona State 6

Saturday, May 30

Game 3: Arizona State 17, South Dakota State 0

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Game 4: Ole Miss 6, Nebraska 3

Sunday, May 31

Game 5: Arizona State 11, Nebraska 8

Game 6: Ole Miss vs Arizona State 7 p.m. CT

Monday, June 1

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs Game 6 loser, if necessary

Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Cade Townsend, Ole Miss baseball pitcher, is top MLB Draft prospect