STARKVILLE - Caleb Reed's role is defined as that of a shut-down reliever, but that's only one part of his job description.

The junior right-hander has a 1.35 ERA and has converted all four of his save chances for Mississippi State. He's yielded runs in only one of his 12 appearances.

And Reed has come to symbolize a new-look bullpen that once was the bane of John Cohen's existence. Reed doesn't just perform, he shows the younger pitchers how to get the job done.

"We have some really quality arms in our bullpen that are young ... and these guys get to sit there and watch this guy do it," Cohen said. "That's how you move a program forward, is having older guys not lead with their mouths, having them lead by example and say, 'Watch me do this. When it's your turn, do it like me.'

"That's something we've been waiting to have since I've been here, and Caleb has just been phenomenal."

MSU (20-9, 4-5 SEC) will need its bullpen to be at its best this weekend against No. 4 Florida (24-6, 7-2), which holds a 2.33 team ERA. State's relievers have been solid so far: In nine SEC games, the Bulldogs' bullpen has a 2.95 ERA in 362/3 innings.

In Tuesday's 5-4 win against Southern Miss, sophomore Luis Pollorena - a top-notch starter in junior college last year - tossed 52/3 innings of shutout ball. He'd prefer a starting role, but he said he's learning a lot from guys like Reed and is enjoying relief work.

"It's a good feeling coming in and having to shut the door when there are runners on, just a different situation every time we come in," said Pollorena, who's 3-0 with a 1.25 ERA in 10 appearances.

The left-hander from Laredo, Texas, isn't just a pitcher. He had a single on Sunday against Georgia in his only at-bat of the season thus far, and Cohen praised not just his athleticism, but his leadership.

"Our players really rallied around him, and the reason for that is when he's not pitching, he's instrumental in our ball club," Cohen said.

Pollorena is just one of many strong pieces in MSU's pen, which is why 11 pitchers have made at least four relief appearances this season. Reed has the most with 12, followed by Pollorena's 10. Andrew Busby, Victor Diaz and Chad Girodo have made seven apiece.

Building depth in the bullpen was one of Cohen's first tasks when he took over the program.

"We just felt like that was crucial, because that was the first thing at Mississippi State we felt like we had to create," he said. "It's something we weren't real good at when we got here."

It's gotten much better, and Reed and his fellow veterans are making sure the progress continues.

Contact Brad Locke at 678-1571

or brad.locke@journalinc.com.