Tomas Valincius has turned in one of the top pitching performances in the country during the 2026 season. In his first year at Mississippi State, the sophomore left-hander made 13 starts posting an 8-2 record with a 2.52 earned run average, 105 strikeouts and only 16 walks across 75 innings of work. Opposing hitters are batting just .209 against him.
Valincius, who came with Brian O’Connor from Virginia, was stellar during Southeastern Conference play. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder from Lockport, Ill., made nine starts in SEC play as the Diamond Dawgs’ ace. He is 5-2 with a 2.82 ERA, 79 strikeouts and 10 walks in 54 1/3 innings while holding hitters to a .202 average.
Valincius leads the conference in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched, and is fourth in ERA.