Most Underrated College Baseball Transfer Portal Classes Entering 2025

Florida

The Gators were one win away from a national championship in 2023 and again made it to the College World Series in 2024, so it feels weird to call anything they do “underrated,” but head coach Kevin O’Sullivan managed to bring in a strong transfer class. No. 10 overall transfer Blake Cyr is the headliner, but I might be most excited about the additional pieces. 2024 Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year Kyle Jones (.355/.460/.476), former Jacksonville infielder Justin Nadeau (.395/.482/.521) and Bobby Boser (.299/.351/.667) all figure to assume everyday roles in the starting nine.

Florida returns loads of depth on the mound, but it did add former Clemson hurler Billy Barlow (6-1, 4.28 ERA) this summer. Barlow last season pitched his way to a career-low 4.28 ERA, and this spring he projects to be used either as a midweek starter or in relief.

Duke

Duke continues to do an admirable job in the portal, and Durham has become a popular destination for former Ivy League and other high-academic institution standouts. This summer was more of the same in terms of who the Blue Devils added, as their class is centered around former Georgetown star Jake Hyde (.297/.405/.560) and former Harvard outfielder Ben Rounds (.403/.506/.685). The duo ranks at No. 56 and No. 88 in the transfer top 100, respectively, and head coach Chris Pollard added another top 100 transfer in lefthander Reid Easterly (2-6, 4.56 ERA). Easterly’s secondary offerings are his calling card, and he consistently stays off the barrel of opposing hitters.

Fellow southpaws Mark Hindy (5-3, 3.75 ERA) and Marcello Mastroianni (6-1, 4.02 ERA) will also be valuable weapons on the mound, especially Hindy, who will pitch exclusively in relief, while Jake Berger (.288/.363/.356) is a sound defender on the left side of the infield.

Kansas

2025 will be just the third year of the coach Dan Fitzgerald era in Lawrence, but he has already created significant buzz around the program. After winning 25 games—a five win improvement from 2022—in 2023, the Jayhawks this spring won their second-most games (31) in a single-season since 2014. Fitzgerald and his staff proceeded to have a wildly successful transfer cycle in which they netted a trio of top-100 transfers in righthander Connor Maggi (No. 80), outfielder Tommy Barth (No. 83) and infielder Brady Counsell (No. 91). 

Maggi is the headliner on the pitching side and for good reason. Pitching exclusively in relief this spring, Maggi had a 3.00 ERA with 73 strikeouts to just 15 walks for the Runnin’ Bulldogs. He relies heavily on his low-to-mid-80s slider, a pitch he threw a whopping 64% of the time this spring, but he also mixes in an effective curveball and low-90s fastball. Following a somewhat quiet sophomore season, Barth bounced back this spring to the tune of a .319/.412/.495 slash line with 18 extra-base hits, 32 RBIs and 25 walks to just 12 strikeouts. Last, but certainly not least, Counsell is fresh off the best season of his college career. The veteran infielder posted new career-highs in every statistical category and hit .287/.386/.520 with 14 doubles, 11 home runs, 36 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

There are quality supplemental pieces as well, namely Jake Cubbler and Sawyer Smith. Cubbler this spring struck out a career-best 54 in 49.1 innings, while Smith hit a mighty impressive .376/.424/.663 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 58 RBIs at Division II St. Cloud State. Kansas has not made the tournament since 2014, but it is in a prime position to snap its drought.

Kentucky

After making its first-ever trip to the College World Series, Kentucky reloaded over the offseason and brought in a whopping 15 transfers. It’s one of the most extensive portal classes in the nation, but within it are a number of players who will play a key role for the “Bat ‘Cats” this spring.

The Wildcats lost a ton of firepower on the mound from last season, so it feels right to start on that side of the baseball. Righthander Nic McCay (4-2, 3.64 ERA) is an above-average strike-thrower who figures to be a weekend starter, where he could be joined by former California Golden Bear Oliver Boone (1-1, 4.45 ERA).

Another arm who profiles as a weekend starter is former Longwood lefty Ethan Walker (1-4, 4.50 ERA). Last spring, Walker split his time between the bullpen and the rotation, and he struck out a career-high 59 across 42 innings. If you’re looking for a “pick to click” on the hill, Chase Alderman is your guy. A 6-foot-5 righthander, Alderman missed all of last season after working a 4.43 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 44.2 innings as a freshman in 2023. His fastball has been up to 97 mph, but his sharp slider—which in 2023 garnered a 45% miss rate—is his calling card.

Kentucky also lost a lot offensively, but plenty of help is on the way. The toolsy Will Marcy (.303/.398/.407) seems destined to start in centerfield, while former San Diego State outfielder Shaun Montoya will man right (.327/.401/.427). Dylan Koontz had a strong season at Campbell, but he exploded this summer in the Coastal Plain League to the tune of a .437/.551/.805 slash line with 15 extra-base hits—including eight home runs—and 31 RBIs in 25 games. Luke Lawrence (.337/.399/.465) is fresh off a career year at Illinois State and projects to slot in somewhere on the left side of the infield, while Carson Hansen (.315/.404/.601) will provide some thump in the middle of the order.

There will be plenty of new faces in Lexington this year, but Kentucky again boasts a deep and experienced roster that will make a run at Omaha.

Houston

Houston always has a heavy presence on the transfer scene, but this year’s class might be the best the Cougars have had in the portal era. No. 59 overall transfer Malachi Lott (.303/.349/.502) will be the centerpiece of the Cougars’ starting nine, but don’t be surprised if you see him make a handful of relief appearances on the mound, too. Former Columbia first baseman Jack Cooper had logged just 33 at-bats coming into this year, but he enjoyed a career year in which he hit .335/.382/.719 with 16 doubles and 16 home runs.

Former Alabama outfielder Evan Haeger had plenty of draft interest out of high school, and while he did not play this spring for the Crimson Tide, the athletic Haeger hit .371/.487/.588 with 15 extra-base hits, 28 RBIs and eight stolen bases this summer with the Amsterdam Mohawks of the Perfect Game League. Former Auburn infielder Gavin Miller (.281/.361/.500) has long been lauded for his advanced offensive skill set, and he seems destined for a career year if he is an everyday member of the Cougars’ lineup. The cherry on top positionally is Aaron Lugo, who last year at Texas State hit .326/.428/.580 with 15 doubles, 10 home runs and 49 RBIs in 53 games. Lugo packs impressive thump in his 5-foot-8 frame and will be a middle-of-the-order bat this spring for head coach Todd Whitting. 

Harrison Boushele will compete for a spot in the weekend rotation after working a minuscule 1.63 ERA with 109 strikeouts to just 25 walks in 83 innings last spring for Division III Augustana, while both Andres Perez (3-1, 2.76 ERA) and Chris Scinta (1-0, 7.23 ERA) will both be regulars in relief.

Michigan

Third-year head coach Tracy Smith and his staff put together their most impressive transfer class yet. It’s an offensive-centric group, but they also brought in an impressive duo on the mound. Infielder Colby Turner lit the world on fire as a freshman at San Diego State, hitting .361/.417/.582 with 15 extra-base hits and 30 RBIs in 34 games. If he can shore up his hit tool and improve his swing decisions, Turner could take his game to the next level this spring. First baseman Cade Ladehoff (.324/.355/.582) is a physical and powerful righthanded hitter who followed up a fantastic spring season with an even better summer in the Perfect Game League in which he hit .408/.465/.656 with 16 doubles and five long balls in 41 games.

Six-foot-four infielder Jeter Ybarra posted new career-highs this spring in doubles (16), home runs (six) and RBIs (nine), while outfielder AJ Rausch (.318/.392/.481) is also in line for a starting role. David Lally (0-1, 9.22 ERA) had a down year at Notre Dame, but he bounced back this summer in the Northwoods League to the tune of a 3.22 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 29 innings. Former Ohio State righthander Gavin DeVooght (2-3, 5.08 ERA) is also an impressive arm talent who, like Lally, will be in contention to start on the weekends.

Rutgers

The Scarlet Knights have not made a regional since 2007, but a strong transfer class could help them reach the promised land in 2025. It starts on the mound for head coach Steve Owens, who brought in a plethora of arms that will be major contributors. Massachusetts-Boston righthander Dillon Ryan (6-1, 3.81 ERA) was one of the best D-III arms in the northeast this spring, and he has the stuff to man a weekend starter spot. Niagara lefthander Preston Prince had both an inflated ERA (6.10) and walk rate (9.9 per nine innings) this spring, but he has massive arm talent. Armed with a fastball that has been up to 96, Prince is a little reminiscent of 16th-round pick Nolan Hughes. Hughes struggled with control during his time at Xavier, but when he was around the strike zone he was virtually untouchable.

Former Stonehill righty Zach Gleason worked a career-low 4.61 ERA this spring and struck out 30 against 13 walks, and he is another arm who will log meaningful innings this spring in Piscataway. Peyton Bonds (.267/.341/.427), nephew of Barry Bonds, will look to build on what was a solid freshman season at Campbell. I am curious to see how Susquehanna (Division III) star Tony Rossi’s (.399/.490/.649) transfers to the Division I level. By all indications, I expect him to hold his own and then some, and he will compete this fall for the starting third base job.

Lamar

After winning 44 games—the most in a single season since 1984—this spring, Lamar continued to make noise in the offseason. The program’s first major move was hiring former Iowa pitching coach Sean McGrath. McGrath is one of the best pitching minds in the college game and has been instrumental in a handful of high-profile arms’ development. Hiring McGrath immediately made Lamar an extremely attractive destination for players in the portal and recruits alike, and the Cardinals brought in seven arms this transfer cycle.

Lefthander Coleson Abel struck out a career-high 64 across 46 innings this spring at Lubbock Christian (Division II), and if he can clean up his strike throwing he could be a real weapon this spring. Fellow southpaw Jayden Shertel headlined UMBC’s rotation this spring, and he enjoyed a career year in which he worked a 3.60 ERA. After firing just 16 innings at Houston Christian, righty Mark Lopez (3-0, 3.38 ERA) seems destined for an increased workload this season. Offensively, fellow former Retriever Matt Ryan (.295/.450/.513) provides above-average thump from the right side, while Trent Baker (.308/.370/.374) brings athleticism and twitchiness to the outfield.

Charlotte

While it does not boast double-digit transfers like some of the other schools listed, Charlotte quietly put together a quality portal haul. The centerpiece of the class is catcher Logan Poteet, and although he played only 11 games this spring at Vanderbilt, he has put together an outstanding wood bat track record that spans two summers. Last year in the NECBL, he hit .347/.438/.455 with 25 RBIs, and this summer in the Appalachian League he hit .367/.480/.608 with 11 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs in 22 games. 

Six-foot-three infielder Dawson Bryce was named the Northeast Conference’s Freshman of the Year after hitting .357/.413/.619 with 19 doubles, 15 home runs and 59 RBIs. Like Poteet, he had a strong summer in the NECBL in which he slashed .306/.393/.551 with eight extra-base hits and 13 RBIs. Connor Maryniak will be a key piece for the Niners this season after hitting .345/.419/.631 with 28 extra-base hits and 70 RBIs this spring for D-III national champion Misericordia.

On the bump, former Georgia righthander Blake Gillespie could be in line for a breakout season. After an underwhelming 2024, Gillespie dominated the Appalachian League and posted a minuscule 0.76 ERA with 26 strikeouts to just two walks across five starts (23.2 innings). His fastball has been up to 95 mph with life through the zone, and he pairs it with a slider that will flash late bite.

University of Tampa (Division II)

It might be a bit of a surprise to see a D-II school on this list, but Tampa’s transfer class is that good. Legendary head coach Joe Urso and his staff put together a class that rivals numerous Division I schools, and the defending national champions are once again loaded. Former North Carolina slugger Alberto Osuna heads down to Tampa after hitting a career .259/.359/.519 with 32 doubles, 45 home runs and 140 RBIs across 177 games at UNC. Following a quiet season at Miami, J.D. Urso (.218/.374/.355) returns to the place where he began his college career. In his last season at Tampa, Urso hit a career-best .368/.454/.568 with 32 extra-base hits and 57 RBIs.

Rounding out the Spartans’ loaded crop of hitters is former Arizona State infielder Kevin Karstetter. Karstetter never quite gained his footing for the Sun Devils, but in 2023 he hit .415/.486/.714 with 46 extra-base hits and 77 RBIs for junior college power State College of Florida. Former Florida Atlantic righthander C.J. Williams (5-5, 4.04 ERA) is in line to lead the rotation. His fastball sits in the upper-80s, but his slider and changeup generated whiff rates of 28% and 42%, respectively.