Jake Mangum Bio
Jacob Thomas Mangum (born March 8, 1996) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays. Mangum played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, where he became the Southeastern Conference’s all-time hits leader and won the C Spire Ferriss Trophy twice as Mississippi’s top collegiate baseball player. He was selected by the New York Mets in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft before embarking on his professional career through the minor leagues with multiple organizations.
Early Life and Background
Mangum was born in Flowood, Mississippi, and raised in nearby Pearl, Mississippi. He attended Jackson Preparatory School in Flowood, where he played for the Patriots baseball team. During his high school career, Mangum was a member of three consecutive state championship teams and earned recognition as a Louisville Slugger All-American in 2013 and 2015, a Perfect Game All-American from 2013 to 2015, and Mississippi Association of Independent Schools first team All-State in 2014 and 2015.
As a senior at Jackson Prep, Mangum was named the MAIS AAA Division I Player of the Year after hitting .504 with 46 runs scored and 41 RBIs. He also compiled an impressive pitching record with an 8-0 mark and four saves, 66 strikeouts, and a 1.48 ERA in 52 innings pitched. Mangum originally committed to play at the University of Alabama, his father’s alma mater, over offers from Ole Miss and Auburn. However, he ultimately de-committed from Alabama and chose to continue his baseball career at Mississippi State University.
Path to Professional Baseball
Mangum’s dominance at the collegiate level for the Mississippi State Bulldogs positioned him as a top professional prospect. His exceptional freshman season, where he led the SEC in batting average and earned conference Freshman of the Year honors, attracted significant attention from MLB scouts. Despite being selected by the New York Yankees in the 30th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Mangum chose to return to school for his junior year. He was again drafted, this time by the New York Mets in the 32nd round of the 2018 MLB Draft, and again opted to remain at Mississippi State, reportedly turning down a $300,000 signing bonus to finish his collegiate career.
His decision to return proved fruitful, as he set the SEC’s all-time hits record and became the first player to win the Ferriss Trophy twice. His leadership helped guide Mississippi State to the College World Series semifinals in 2018 and the championship game in 2019. Mangum’s performance during his senior season solidified his status as a professional-caliber player, leading to his selection by the Mets in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2019 MLB Draft.
Jake Mangum Career
Minor League Development (2019–2024)
Mangum signed with the New York Mets on June 24, 2019, for a signing bonus of $20,000, below the slotted amount of $487,900 for his draft position. He was assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones of the Low-A New York-Penn League to begin his professional career. In his first season, Mangum batted .247 with 45 hits, 29 runs scored, 18 RBIs, and led the team with 17 stolen bases in 53 games. He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upon returning in 2021, Mangum began the season with Brooklyn before earning a promotion to the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies on May 22. Across 84 games between both affiliates, he slashed .285/.337/.454 with nine home runs, 47 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. The following year, Mangum received an invitation to the Mets’ major league spring training as a non-roster invitee before being assigned to Binghamton to start the season. He batted .283 in 31 games before earning another promotion to Triple-A Syracuse. He suffered a stress reaction in his spine shortly after the promotion but returned on August 31, 2022, and hit .333/.365/.471 with two home runs and seven stolen bases over 33 games.
Tampa Bay Rays Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Mangum was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on December 8, 2023, as the player to be named later in a trade that sent Vidal Bruján and Calvin Faucher to the Miami Marlins. In 2024 with Triple-A Durham, he posted outstanding numbers, batting .317/.358/.442 with six home runs, 56 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases in 104 games. His strong performance earned him protection from the Rule 5 Draft when the Rays added him to their 40-man roster on November 19, 2024.
On March 29, 2025, Mangum was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Josh Lowe. He made his MLB debut and played his rookie season with Tampa Bay, appearing in 118 games and hitting .296/.330/.368 with three home runs, 40 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases. A memorable moment came on May 31, 2025, when he hit his first career home run, a two-run shot off Kaleb Ort of the Houston Astros. His solid rookie campaign established him as a contributing major league player.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2025–Present)
On December 19, 2025, the Rays sent Mangum to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a three-team trade. The Pirates acquired Mangum along with Brandon Lowe and Mason Montgomery from Tampa Bay, while the Houston Astros received Mike Burrows and the Rays obtained Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito. Mangum joined the Pirates’ roster for the 2026 season, bringing his experience from three major league organizations and his defensive versatility in the outfield.
Playing Style and Strengths
Mangum is known as a contact hitter with the ability to get on base consistently. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated固体 speed on the bases, accumulating over 40 career stolen bases across minor and major league play. His defensive versatility allows him to play all three outfield positions. At Mississippi State, he showcased his defensive prowess by earning SEC All-Defensive team honors and a Rawlings Division I Gold Glove award, highlighting his reliability in center field.
Notable Achievements
Mangum’s career highlights include becoming the all-time hits leader in SEC history with 383 career hits, a record that stands as both a Mississippi State and conference record. He is the only player to win the C Spire Ferriss Trophy twice, recognizing the top collegiate baseball player in Mississippi. His 108 hits during the 2019 season set the Mississippi State single-season record. In the Cape Cod Baseball League, he earned All-Star honors in both 2016 and 2017 summers, further establishing his reputation as one of the top college players of his generation.
Jake Mangum Career Wins
Through his professional career spanning from 2019 to 2026, Mangum has accumulated solid numbers at both the minor and major league levels. His career major league statistics through June 21, 2026, include a .299 batting average, four home runs, 53 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases across limited MLB appearances.
Major League Highlights
Mangum’s MLB career began with Tampa Bay in 2025, where he played 118 games as a rookie and hit .296 with three home runs, 40 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases. His first career home run on May 31, 2025, marked a significant milestone in his professional journey. He has continued to develop as a major league player with the Pittsburgh Pirates, contributing defensively and as a contact hitter at the top of the lineup.
Minor League Success
Prior to reaching the majors, Mangum demonstrated consistent hitting ability throughout the minor leagues. His best minor league season came in 2024 with Durham, where he hit .317 with six home runs and 56 RBIs. He also excelled in 2023 with Jacksonville, batting .298 with five home runs and 52 RBIs in 119 games. His 2021 campaign between High-A and Double-A saw him post a combined .285 average with nine home runs and 47 RBIs.
Jake Mangum Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
Mangum comes from a distinguished athletic family with roots in football at the collegiate and professional levels. His father, John Mangum Jr., played defensive back for the University of Alabama and later in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. His uncle, Kris Mangum, was a tight end for the Carolina Panthers. His grandfather, John “Big John” Mangum Sr., played college football at Ole Miss and Southern Miss before playing for the Boston Patriots of the American Football League.
Personal Life
Due to his remarkable success at Mississippi State University, Mangum earned the nickname “the Mayor of Starkville” among fans and teammates. He played his final two collegiate seasons as a walk-on after giving up his scholarship, choosing to redirect that funding to allow the program to allocate it elsewhere. This decision reflected his commitment to the program’s success over his personal financial benefit. Mangum maintains an active presence on Instagram under the handle jakemangum15.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Mangum’s rookie campaign in Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was promoted from Triple-A Durham on March 29 following an injury to Josh Lowe and never looked back, establishing himself as a valuable member of the Rays’ outfield rotation. His ability to play all three outfield positions provided the team with defensive flexibility throughout the season.
Across 118 games, Mangum hit .296 with a .330 on-base percentage, demonstrating his contact-hitting ability at the major league level. He contributed three home runs, 40 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases, showcasing his speed and basestealing acumen that had been evident throughout his minor league career. The highlight of his season came on May 31 when he hit his first career home run, a two-run shot against Houston Astros pitcher Kaleb Ort.
His strong rookie performance positioned him well for the future, and his inclusion in the December 2025 trade to Pittsburgh demonstrated that other organizations valued his contributions. The Pirates acquired Mangum as part of a significant three-team deal, signaling their belief in his potential to be a contributing major league player. With his contact-hitting ability, speed, and defensive versatility, Mangum enters the 2026 season with the Pirates looking to build upon his rookie success and establish himself as a long-term contributor at the major league level.