2024 College Baseball Transfer Portal Rankings
Image credit: Jace LaViolette (Photo by Eddie Kelly/ProLook Photos)
With the 2024 college baseball transfer portal cycle well away, there are thousands—yes, thousands— of players who have hit the portal. It can be extremely overwhelming to keep track of. This running piece won’t include every single player in the portal, but it will follow some of the more notable names and where they end up committing. Here are some of the buzziest names so far, and we’ll continue to expand this list throughout the summer.
1. Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M
New School: Undecided
When Jim Schlossnagle left Texas A&M to take the Texas job, it sent shockwaves throughout college baseball and created a domino effect both within coaching circle and now the transfer portal. The first domino to fall is a big one. LaViolette, a superstar outfielder and potential No. 1 overall pick in 2025, entered his name into the portal less than 24 hours after Schlossnagle’s decision.
The towering 6-foot-6 All-American hit .307/.453/.736 with 16 doubles, 29 home runs and 78 RBIs this season. He has double-plus raw power, especially to the pull side, but his pure hit tool also took a step forward this spring. LaViolette next spring will again man center field and will be one of the best bats in the sport. The question now? Whether that’s in College Station (pending Schlossnagle’s replacement) or somewhere else.
2. Gavin Grahovac, 3B, Texas A&M
New School: Undecided
See the above blurb on LaViolette if you’re looking for an explanation on Grahovac. While it’s not entirely surprising, it’s still jarring to see both Grahovac and LaViolette in the portal. Grahovac this spring quickly cemented himself as one of A&M’s most impactful bats and spent time in both the middle-of-the-order and, most recently, the leadoff spot. The physical, 6-foot-3 third baseman hit .296/.390/.596 with 15 doubles, 23 home runs and 65 RBIs. Grahovac will be highly coveted in the portal, and is on track for a potential first-round selection in 2026.
3. Gavin Kilen, SS, Louisville
New school: Undecided
It was a bit of a surprise when Kilen decided to transfer at the end of the season. He has been an everyday player for the Cardinals since stepping onto campus as a freshman and started at shortstop this spring. Kilen enjoyed the most productive season of his college career to the tune of a .330/.361/.591 slash line with 23 doubles, nine home runs and 41 RBIs. Kilen has a hitterish look in the box with a compact swing and quick hands. He also has plus feel for the barrel. Expect him to land somewhere big.
4. Easton Winfield, OF, Louisiana-Monroe
New school: Undecided
Given today’s nature of college baseball, Winfield entering the portal was unsurprising. He put together a fantastic freshman season hitting .332/.414/.546 with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 40 RBIs and was a mainstay in the Warhawks’ lineup. Winfield has a strong, explosive operation with plus hand speed, present impact and above-average power to the pull side. He also consistently turned in plus run times. His skill set enables him to impact the game in a myriad of ways. Like Kilen, I have a feeling Winfield will end up at a major program.
5. Deven Sheerin, RHP, Mount St. Mary’s
New school: LSU
Sheerin is the pitching version of Easton Winfield. He was under-recruited in high school, ended up at a smaller program and made a big name for himself as a freshman. Sheerin this spring pitched his way to a 4.76 ERA with an impressive 109 strikeouts to 32 walks across 70 innings. He has a workhorse frame at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, and possesses a thunderous fastball-slider combination. Sheerin’s fastball has been up to 97 with carry through the zone and worked a 35% miss rate. His mid-80s power slider routinely flashed sharp, two-plane tilt and generated a 40% miss rate. He is a bulldog on the mound and should pitch in the weekend rotation for a Power 5 school come 2025.
6. Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Ohio State
New school: Arkansas
Beidelschies was another name I was somewhat surprised to see hit the portal. After pitching out of the bullpen as a freshman, Beidelschies this spring headlined the Buckeyes’ rotation and worked a 4.15 ERA with 91 strikeouts to 31 walks in 84.2 innings. His fastball sits 92-95, but has been up to 98 and is most effective in the top half of the zone. Beidelschies supplements his heater with an above-average gyro slider and a changeup that is an effective third pitch against righthanded hitters.
7. Blake Cyr, 2B, Miami
New school: Florida
Cyr entered the portal after an up-and-down 2024 in which he dealt with his fair share of injuries. While he played just 25 games and likely wasn’t 100% for most—if not all—of them, Cyr was still a rather productive hitter and had 10 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs. However as a freshman, he lit the world on fire and posted a .305/.427/.620 slash line with 12 doubles, 17 home runs and 63 RBIs. Cyr plays with an infectious energy and swagger, has a tantalizing toolset—especially offensively—packed into his 5-foot-11 frame and will be a high-impact player next spring for the Gators.
8. Myles Patton, LHP, Long Beach State
New school: Undecided
I’ve followed Patton closely since he tore up the California Collegiate League last summer to the tune of a 1.11 ERA with 48 strikeouts to just 10 walks across 32.1 total innings. He carried that success over to this spring and pitched his way to a 3.26 ERA with 85 strikeouts against 26 walks in 66.1 innings. Patton’s low-90s four-seamer plays up given its life through the zone. He also mixes in an above-average slider and a budding changeup.
There is a lot to like about Patton. He is an advanced strike-thrower with sneaky stuff and is an athletic lefthander who moves well on the mound. Patton is highly sought after in the portal and will be a major get for whoever lands him.
9. Ryan Black, 2B, Texas-Arlington
New school: Georgia
Making his way to Athens by way of Texas-Arlington, Black was a big-time pickup for the Bulldogs. Don’t let his somewhat modest season fool you, the 6-foot-1 infielder has tools and will be a name to follow closely throughout the 2025 draft cycle. Black has a strong swing with above-average bat speed and quickness in his hands, and flashes some pop to the pull side. He has an advanced approach with polished swing decisions, but his calling card is his contact ability. Black this spring boasted a ridiculous 95% in-zone contact rate, including 96% against fastballs. I’m excited to watch him take his game to the next level in Athens.
10. Zach Root, LHP, East Carolina
New school: Undecided
Since ECU’s season concluded, there has been a mass exodus from Greenville. Root is perhaps the most notable name of his teammates to enter the portal, especially since it was expected he would slide into the Friday starter role next season in the wake of Trey Yesavage’s departure to the draft. Root as a freshman gained some rotation experience, but that is where he pitched exclusively this season. He had a 3.56 ERA to go along with 76 strikeouts to just 21 walks across 68.1 innings.
Root’s calling cards are his secondary offerings. His changeup is a plus pitch that gets solid separation off his fastball and flashes ample fade and late tumble, while his above-average slider—especially against lefthanded hitters—is long and sweepy with a bit of depth. He could be a big-time program’s “major splash” of this year’s transfer cycle.
11. Bristol Carter, OF, East Carolina
New school: Auburn
Carter arrived on campus as a highly regarded player and earned the starting centerfielder job coming out of fall camp. He had plenty of success in year one and finished the year hitting .346/.406/.440 with 10 extra-base hits and 31 RBIs in 56 games. In the box, Carter takes a direct path to contact and has no shortage of bat speed with present barrel skills. He is a dynamic athlete who is a plus runner. His routes in the outfield at times lack polish he can really go and get it in centerfield. Carter figures to hit in the top-third of the order next spring at an ACC or SEC school.
12. Tommy LaPour, RHP, Wichita State
New school: Undecided
LaPour is a little bit in the mold of Sheerin in that he is a strong-bodied righthander with serious arm talent. His fastball has been up to 97 and plays well in the top half of the zone, where it is most effective—and generates the most swing-and-miss—given its riding life. LaPour’s slider flashed plus with both depth and sweep, and has the makings of a potential out pitch down the road. I am really excited to see how his changeup progresses wherever he ends up. It is a little firm right now, but he throws it with conviction and it flashed plus at times this season with fade to the arm side and late tumble.
13. Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State
New School: Vanderbilt
Dzierwa entered the transfer portal following a strong sophomore season in which he worked a 4.07 ERA with 91 strikeouts against 27 walks in 84 innings. The 6-foot-7 southpaw attacks hitters from a low-three quarters, borderline sidearm slot and features a three-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball, an effective changeup and a low-80s slider. He recently committed to Vanderbilt and figures to end up at a high-end power-five program and pitch in its weekend rotation next spring.
14. Ethan Conrad, OF, Marist
New School: Wake Forest
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound outfielder makes his way to Wake Forest by way of Marist, where he enjoyed a standout two-year career. In the wake of a strong 2023 campaign, Conrad this spring hit .389/.467/.704 with 18 doubles, a nation-leading 13 triples, nine home runs and 52 RBIs in 55 games. On top of his above-average power, Conrad has advanced contact skills to the tune of a 91% overall in-zone contact rate. He projects to slot into the middle of the Demon Deacons’ lineup and figures to make an immediate impact.
15. Jacob Mayers, RHP, Nicholls
New School: LSU
Mayers burst onto the scene as a true freshman and posted a 2.02 ERA with a whopping 105 strikeouts in 75.2 innings. He backed up a little bit this spring, but still enjoyed a solid season to the tune of a 4.58 ERA with 106 strikeouts to 76 walks across 70.2 innings. Command and control have always been an issue for the 6-foot-5 Mayers, but there is no denying the pure stuff. He relies heavily on his thunderous fastball, a pitch he threw 91% of the time this spring, but for good reason. On top of being up to 97, it has serious carry through the zone and generates plenty of whiffs. Mayers supplements his heater with a seldom-used gyro slider.
16. Janzen Keisel, RHP, Oklahoma State
New School: Oregon
It has been a bit of a long, winding road for Keisel who began his career at BYU before ending up in Stillwater. He thrived for the Cougars, but never quite gained his footing for the Cowboys and is in the portal for the second time in three seasons. Don’t let the lack of sample size fool you, though. Keisel’s stuff is huge. The 6-foot-4 righty features an explosive mid-90s fastball that has plenty of life through the zone and this spring topped out at 99 mph. Keisel also mixes in an effective sweeping slider and a promising changeup. He is a safe bet to go reasonably early on day two of this July’s draft.
17. Nate Knowles, RHP, William & Mary
New School: Undecided
Knowles’ entry into the portal can almost certainly be chalked up as an insurance policy should this year’s draft—for whatever reason—not work out for the 6-foot righthander. As a sophomore, Knowles had a productive season on the bump in which he posted a 3.43 ERA with 70 strikeouts across 65.2 innings. However, he took off this past spring and took home CAA Pitcher of the Year honors after working a 2.48 ERA with 112 strikeouts to 39 walks in 80 innings.
Knowles’ attacks hitters with a fastball that sits in the low 90s with riding life in the top half of the zone, but his best pitch is his plus high-80s cutter that bears in on the hands of lefthanded hitters and away from righthanded hitters. Knowles has an advanced feel for the pitch, which only adds to its effectiveness. He completes his arsenal with a high-70s curveball that is both big in depth and flashes some sharp, downward bite. Look for Knowles’ name to be called on the first-half of day two in this year’s draft.
18. Luke Hayden, RHP, Indiana State
New School: LSU
Hayden was a highly regarded recruit out of high school, but struggled to get into a rhythm during his two seasons at Indiana. The stuff has always been big, but strikes were an issue. However this spring, he blossomed in Terre Haute and pitched his way to a 3.81 ERA with 91 strikeouts to 47 walks across 78 innings. Hayden’s fastball has been up to 97 with life up in the zone, but his bread-and-butter pitches are his slider and changeup. While he projects to be selected inside the top-10 rounds of this year’s draft, Hayden would immediately slot into LSU’s weekend rotation if he makes it to campus.
19. Evan Chrest, RHP, Jacksonville
New School: Florida State
Chrest took a step back after an excellent freshman season in which he took home Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year honors after posting a 2.58 ERA with 98 strikeouts to 36 walks across 90.2 innings. However, he did not have the same success this spring as his ERA inflated to 6.82 and got hit around a little bit. After the end of Jacksonville’s season, Chrest entered his name into the transfer portal and swiftly committed to Florida State. Chrest’s fastball has been up to 95 and is at its best when located down in the zone, where it flashes some running and sinking life. His high-spin, sweeping slider is an above-average pitch, and Chrest rounds out his arsenal with a similarly effective changeup.
20. Zac Cowan, RHP, Wofford
New School: LSU
Cowan is a personal favorite of mine–not necessarily from a prospect standpoint, but because he is an old school type of pitcher in today’s game. After posting a ridiculous strikeout-to-walk ratio of 54-to-3 in his freshman season, Cowan excelled this spring to the tune of a 3.35 ERA with 124 strikeouts to only 29 walks across a whopping 110 innings. The rising junior has pinpoint command and control of his entire arsenal, headlined by his high-70s plus changeup. Cowan has shown the impressive ability to pitch off his “cambio,” an offering he supplements with a low-90s fastball and an effective gyro slider. An old school strike-thrower and innings eater, Cowan will look to carry his success into the SEC.
21. Wyatt Henseler, 3B, Pennsylvania
New School: Texas A&M
Since the Ivy League does not allow for fifth-years athletically, Henseler has been committed to the Aggies since late this fall. He enjoyed an outstanding four-year career at Pennsylvania, headlined by a monster 2024 season in which he took home Ivy League Player of the Year honors after hitting .360/.465/.755 with nine doubles, an Ivy League single-season record 22 home runs and 56 RBIs in 49 games. Henseler has shown the ability to drive the baseball with authority to all fields. He is also an impact defender at third base where he has plenty of arm strength. He recently withdrew his name from this year’s draft, reaffirming his strong commitment to the Aggies.
22. Gavin Kash, 1B, Texas Tech
New School: Undecided
Kash entered the portal for the second time in three seasons after a productive two-year tenure at Texas Tech in which he hit 29 doubles, 41 home runs and drove in 135 runs across 120 games. It is without a doubt a power-over-hit profile for Kash, who has impressive juice to the pull side. While there is heavy draft interest and Kash will certainly have the opportunity to sign if that is the route he wants to take, there is a non-zero chance that Kash is playing college baseball next spring. An eventual commitment to an SEC school makes the most sense.
23. Henry Kaczmar, SS, Ohio State
New School: Undecided
In the wake of the departure of former head man Bill Mosiello, it wasn’t all that surprising to see a number of Buckeyes enter the portal. On top of staff ace Landon Beidelschies–who recently announced his commitment to Arkansas–Kaczmar also announced his intention to transfer. The 5-foot-10 shortstop played every day in the six-hole this spring for Ohio State and hit .320/.417/.476 with 10 doubles, seven home runs and 36 RBIs. A draft-eligible sophomore, Kaczmar could sign this July. But if he doesn’t, Kaczmar will again be the everyday shortstop for a big-time program.
24. Travis Smith, RHP, Kentucky
New School: Undecided
Smith projects to be selected somewhere inside the top 10 rounds of this year’s draft, so him entering the portal is more an insurance policy than anything else, but it’s still a notable entry nonetheless. Following a solid sophomore season, Smith struggled this spring and was eventually bumped out of the Wildcats’ rotation. However, the 6-foot-4 righthander possesses impressive stuff with a fastball up to 97 with some carrying life at the top of the zone. He also throws a mid-80s sweeping slider.
25. Daniel Jackson, C, Wofford
New School: Georgia
Jackson enjoyed a fantastic freshman campaign, hitting .358/.460/.599 with 10 doubles, 12 home runs and 69 RBIs. He took home SoCon Freshman of the Year honors and it was a little surprising to see him hit the portal. Jackson promptly committed to Georgia–who is having an excellent portal season–and should be the Bulldogs’ everyday backstop next spring with the departure of Fernando Gonzalez.
26. Brady Neal, C, LSU
New School: Undecided
Though he split time behind the plate this spring, it was a bit of a surprise to see Neal enter the portal. He hit a respectable .276/.409/.578 with eight doubles, nine home runs and 31 RBIs, and seemed destined to play behind the plate every day in 2025. Neal will provide some thump with his bat as well as advanced defensive acumen for whichever program he ends up with. Wherever he goes, Neal figures to be in line to be that team’s starting catcher.
27. Luke Gaffney, 1B, Purdue
New School: Undecided
After redshirting in his true freshman season, Gaffney exploded onto the scene this spring to the tune of a .359/.449/.646 slash line with 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 64 RBIs. He was named the Big Ten’s freshman of the year for his performance and subsequently entered the portal. Gaffney has carried over his hot hitting into the summer season. Through eight games on the Cape he is hitting .400/.438/.433. He has impressive power to the back side and will be a high-impact, middle-of-the-order bat for someone next spring.
28. Connor Harrison, C, St. Mary’s
New School: Undecided
Speaking of freshman catchers who made an immediate impact in year one, Harrison recently entered the portal after posting a great year for the Gaels in which he hit .322/.410/.541 with 16 extra-base hits and 35 RBIs in 43 games. For now, the 6-foot-3 Harrison is a bat-first catcher, but he figures to continue to gain polish with additional experience. He is a highly sought-after target for a number of schools and projects to end up at a major program.
29. Jason Torres, 1B, Miami (FL)
New School: Alabama
Though he logged just 36 at-bats in 2023 as a freshman, Torres made the most of his limited opportunities and went 17-for-36 with seven extra-base hits. While an injury derailed his 2024 season, Torres was again a force in the Hurricanes’ lineup and hit .331/.385/.529 with 15 extra-base hits–including eight home runs–and 32 RBIs in 39 games. An offensive-minded first baseman, Torres figures to provide plenty of thump to the middle of the Crimson Tide’s order.
30. Logan Maxwell, OF, TCU
New School: Arkansas
Maxwell entered the portal in the wake of a successful 2024 season that saw him hit .335/.447/.482 with 17 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs. He has advanced bat-to-ball skills and a sound approach, and should bring some balance to the Arkansas lineup. Maxwell’s lefthanded bat will play well in Baum-Walker Stadium, and he will provide value both on and off the field. This was a nice get for Coach Van Horn and company.
