ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira Pioneers are excited to announce the additions of Mississippi State right-handed pitchers Parker Ford and Noah Hughes, as well as catcher Marshall Gilbert, a Bulldogs commit from John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill.

Ford, a redshirt freshman from Lufkin, Texas, stands in at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds. He redshirted during his first year on campus at Mississippi State while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he had undergone during his senior year in high school. Prior to the surgery, he went 5-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 31.0 innings for Lufkin High School. Ford was projected to go somewhere in the top-10 rounds during the 2015 MLB Draft prior to his injury and was ranked No. 323 in Baseball America’s Top-500 prospects that year. Ford will be slotted into the Pioneers' starting rotation.

Hughes, a 6-foot-1, 192-pound redshirt freshman, hails from Jackson, Miss. He is also working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last year. He appeared in eight games for the Bulldogs last year, tossing 7.2 innings and striking out six before going down due to injury. Hughes had a stellar high school career at Jackson Preparatory School, where he helped the team to three straight state championships. During his senior season, he was a 2015 Louisville Slugger All-American after going 12-0 with 112 strikeouts and a 1.38 ERA in 76.0 innings. Hughes was also dominant during his junior and sophomore seasons, going a combined 22-1 with 176 punch outs in 143.2 innings.

Gilbert, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound catcher is currently starring for a strong junior college team at John A. Logan College and is committed to play for Mississippi State next season. Gilbert was a NJCAA Division I Second-Team All-American in 2016 after hitting .406 with 12 homers and 67 RBIs in 52 games. Currently, he's is hitting .357 with 12 homers and 61 RBIs through 47 games. Gilbert will see considerable time behind the plate and in the middle of the order for the Pios.

“We are very excited to have three more top-notch guys from the SEC added to our already strong roster,” said Pioneers manager Brian Hill.