What Johnny Long means to Mississippi State baseball beyond ejection vs Georgia

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State catcher Johnny Long was the star in a moment that captivated college baseball Saturday. His exchanging of words with Georgia’s Dillon Carter on a play at home plate in the eighth inning led to the benches clearing which sparked at least 10 ejections and earned him, and teammate Logan Kohler, a one-game suspension.

While that moment made him a household name for 24 hours, it won’t be how MSU (21-12, 6-6 SEC) remembers his time at Dudy Noble Field.

Long, even with a .254 batting average and no home runs this season, is as important a piece as any in coach Chris Lemonis’ locker room. It was evident even Sunday, when MSU defeated Georgia 9-8 to clinch a series victory, while Long was watching from home.

“He’s the reason we’re so close,” pitcher Tyler Davis said Sunday after throwing three shutout innings.“He’s the reason I can call every last person in that dugout my brother.”

Long came to Mississippi State as a transfer from Pitt in the offseason. He wasn’t an addition making headlines due in large part to his .224 batting average in two seasons with the Panthers.

However, it took less than two weeks this season to see why he was a key piece of the roster. After losing a pair of midweek games against Austin Peay in late February, Long led a players-only meeting.

Lemonis called him a, “heart-and-soul” guy. It’s part of why Lemonis feels Mississippi State didn’t quit when Georgia (24-8, 5-7) jumped out to a 5-0 lead Sunday.

"I would like to think it's some of those older guys,” Lemonis said. “Usually I say it's Johnny Long, but his (butt) was back home. We had to kick him out of the stadium. They were yelling, 'Free Johnny' in the locker room."

When Mississippi State won a national title in 2021, Tanner Allen and Rowdey Jordan were regarded as the players who set an edge that extended beyond the box score.

If MSU faced adversity, they were the leaders who established a mentality of not being fazed. Mississippi State has lacked that the last two seasons – campaigns that saw the Bulldogs miss the SEC tournament. Long has brought that back into the locker room.

“He is such a tough, hard-nosed kid,” Lemonis said.

When Mississippi State has struggled, Long has often been the one representing the players in postgame press conferences. That was the case Tuesday after MSU lost to Central Arkansas.

The midweek games against lesser foes are meant to give young players a chance at playing time. However, the struggles have added pressure to those younger pieces. Still, Long doesn’t pin the blame on them.

“The pressure aspect came because we started making these midweeks a problem,” Long said. “If we established a midweek game for these young kids is going to be something where they’re just going to go in, get their reps and they were going to win, they wouldn’t probably have that pressure. We almost have a fear of these games because it’s been pretty consistent of what happens throughout the past couple of weeks. I think the older guys should take the blame on that. I take the blame on that.”

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There’s a value to Long that extends beyond his numbers or a viral brouhaha leading to ejections and suspensions. It’s something Mississippi State has lacked.

It’s something the Bulldogs need entering rivalry week.

"You have a kid, he plays with a lot of edge,” Lemonis said. “Probably hasn't played in this emotional of an environment as much. Just got the best of him. He is such a wonderful kid and such a great addition to our team."

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.