Hunter Renfroe picked right up where he left off at Mississippi State, finding early success with the San Diego Padres.

Renfroe comes from humble beginnings, playing high school ball at a private 3A Copiah Academy. He started slow his freshman year at MSU only starting in five games and moved around between pitching, the outfield, catching and playing as a designated hitter/pinch hitter. Renfroe wasn’t down long. His sophomore year, he went on to start in 60 of 61 games and continued to improve. By his junior year, he was State’s golden boy.

After being drafted his senior year of high school in the thirty-first round to the Boston Red Sox, Renfroe decided not to sign and to continue his career as a Mississippi State Bulldog. In high school, he was used primarily as a catcher but also saw action on the mound and in the outfield.  At MSU, he moved around to multiple positions and hit .159 with 2 RBIs in 26 at-bats, a serious drop from his .583, 70 RBI and MAIS record 20 home-runs. His slow start only lasted so long. After having a solid sophomore year, he came back his junior year as a standout player. 

After an injury to C.T. Bradford his sophomore year, Renfroe started 33 games in center field and also 15 in left field and 12 in right. His batting average rose to .252, and he was ranked second on the team with 58 hits and 20 extra-base hits. He went on to set the school record with an SEC-leading 10 outfield assists and ranked third on the team with seven stolen bases in eight attempts. Although he had improved, the Bulldogs were still waiting for Renfroe to reach his full potential, and his junior year he finally showed State what he could really do.   

Finally finding his place, Renfroe went to start every game as the team’s right fielder with great fielding and a cannon for an arm. His batting average increased to .350, and he led the team with 16 home-runs. He also led the Bulldogs to their first College World Series finals with his three-run homer in the fifth inning in their win against Oregon State.  

Throughout the year, Renfroe became the go-to guy for the Bulldogs, and came through in the clutch in the World Series when the team needed him.   

At the end of his junior year, Renfroe was the 13th overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft to the San Diego Padres. He started playing for the Lake Elsinore Storm of Class A- Advanced California League hitting .295 and 52 RBIs.  

As of June 18, he has been moved up to the San Antonio Missions AA team. Renfroe is quickly making his way up to the big leagues, and as any state fan knows, he can get there. Renfroe was an outstanding player for the bulldogs, and he is one that fans hope will work his way and follow former Bulldog greats such as Will Clark and Rafael Palmero.