After devastating elbow injury, ex-South MS star could play big role for Southern Miss
McCarty English knew his season was over when it happened.
The Southern Miss right-hander was putting the finishing touches on what would be a 5-3 conference win over Troy on March 30 last season when he felt it in his elbow. English walked off the mound knowing his true freshman season was done.
The Ocean Springs product had fractured his elbow and had bone spurs on his forearm and had to undergo surgery just 18.1 innings into his college career.
“It was that last inning, in the ninth, and I knew it was probably going to be the last,” English told the Sun Herald.
He had been in the best groove of his spring when the injury occurred, having thrown four scoreless innings across two games.
But the timing of the injury was serendipitous. It was the last game he could appear in to obtain a medical redshirt.
Now, as a second-year freshman, English has rehabbed and forced his way into the conversation for a role as a starter in a deep Golden Eagles staff.
‘Fearless’ on the mound
English admits the injury was upsetting, but he quickly went to work making his way back to the mound. He began throwing again that summer and is fully cleared for the start of the new season after throwing live at-bats over the off-season.
His work ethic and presence from the center of the diamond earned him an immediate bullpen role for head coach Christian Ostrander last season. English impressed in limited action, holding opposing batters to a .225 batting average.
“He’s put himself in position to be one of the guys that we’re lengthening out,” Ostrander said about English at media day. “He’s going to have a chance to win one of the starting jobs. Regardless, he’s going to throw very meaningful innings. He’s a tremendous talent, last year we saw he was fearless as a freshman. Still is. His progression has been good. ... I’m very excited about what the possibilities are for him this year.”
English changed little about his mechanics through rehab, but did add to his repertoire. He’s improved his splitter and plans to unleash it as part of a four-pitch mix that has thrust him into the battle for a starting role.
And this on a team that returns 37 career starts and is freshly infused with eight new arms.
“Whenever I go out there, I don’t think about anything and I just say that I’m better than the hitter, no matter who it is,” English said. “I just do my best and focus on pitching my pitch.”
English has a competitive streak that has gripped the attention of his teammates, even those who have been around the block a few more times than the Greyhound-turned-Eagle.
He showed off that fire in a recent scrimmage. Facing Vancleave native and career .897 OPS-hitter Carson Paetow with two runners on and nobody out, English climbed the ladder and cut down Paetow with a fastball up in the zone. He then followed that by inducing an inning-ending double-play.
“Last year he was really good,” senior pitcher Landen Payne said of English. “I mean, he’s really good. In my opinion, he’s going to pitch in the big leagues one day. ... He’s got that attitude about him, he’s got the mentality, he’s got the stuff, for sure. He’s going to be really good.”
Payne is a St. Martin graduate who began his career at Pearl River CC. He torched hitters in 2022, but suffered a torn latissimus dorsi and has undergone a grueling rehab process that featured nagging setbacks.
Payne — who is now 100 percent healthy and in line for a back-end role in the pen — served as a mentor for English throughout the latter’s rehab process, as has veteran Chandler Best.
“Me and (Payne) are real close,” English said. “I like his view on things with the recovery. It sucks doing all the recovery, but if you really want it and want to work for it, then it’s definitely feasible.
“Chandler Best has been a really, really big part of that. We had different surgeries, but he’s been giving me wisdom and making sure I’m keeping my head up and pushing it.”
Southern Miss opens the season with a home series against Lafayette beginning Feb. 14. It’s a four-game series with a Saturday double-header and will be followed the next Tuesday with a home game against Mississippi State.
Five games in five days will provide an early test for the depth of USM’s pitching talent. Whether English makes his first appearance as a starter or out of the pen, he’s simply ready to compete again.
“Whatever role I get put in I’m happy with,” English said. “Being a starter is definitely in my plan. But I just want to go out there and do the best I can and glorify God.”
