Owen Paino is emerging as Ole Miss’ steady, left-handed infielder with real on-base value
Paino’s appeal is his upward trajectory: in the 2026 season, the Ole Miss infielder hit .244 with a .373 OBP, five homers, 24 RBI and 20 walks, while also taking over as a more reliable defensive shortstop after a big fielding jump from his freshman year.[1][3][7] He is a left-handed bat with legitimate power growth, solid strike-zone control and enough versatility to handle shortstop, third base and DH duties, which makes him a useful fit for teams valuing contact, patience and defensive flexibility.[3][4]
