College baseball’s 12 biggest transfers in early September

January 7, 2026 Karsyn Larsen Sports 0

The 2025 College Baseball Transition Portal summer cycle featured a number of high-profile players across the country who traded in their old phones this offseason.

Some were decisions based on coaching changes, while others wanted to test their talent in conferences like the SEC and ACC.

Now that the flow has settled and most portal targets have made their decisions before the start of the 2025-26 school year, here are the 12 biggest transfers that happened in early September.

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Henry Ford (Virginia-Tennessee)

The volunteers made a huge splash at the transfer portal, and the biggest fish was Henry Ford of Virginia.

The sophomore draft pick, an outfielder and first baseman, was pushed to the Cavaliers. He hit .348 with 28 homers and 115 RBI in two seasons at Virginia and was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2025.

This stat line says “MLB Draft Pick.”

However, the 6-foot-5, 225-pounder went unselected in the 2025 MLB draft and headed to Knoxville, where he became a key part of Tennessee’s 2026 plan. The Volunteers had the most Day 1 picks in this year’s draft, leaving plenty of holes in their projected lineup for next season. Ford’s addition accounts for some of that.

Chris Hakopian (Maryland to Texas A&M)

Chris Hakopian has been one of the Big Ten’s best players over the past two seasons and looks to be one of the conference’s hottest prospects entering his junior season. The shortstop received consecutive second-team All-Big 10 selections.

He batted .375 with 14 homers and 61 RBI last season, leading the Terrapins in hits (72), doubles (12) and OPS (1.158).

Texas A&M is now taking advantage of those benefits, landing Hakopian on the right side of the defense alongside 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year Gavin Grahowak, who missed most of last season with a left shoulder injury.

Another strong season for Hakopian, especially in the SEC, would be huge for the Aggies and their potential 2026 draft plans.

Joey Volchko (Stanford to Georgia)

Another big name heading deep into the SEC is one of the more attractive arms.

Right-hander Joey Volchko has one of the best toolboxes in the country: an electric fastball, a triple-digit fastball, and a head-turning, nasty slider. That doesn’t include his 6-foot-4, long, lean frame.

Volchko’s biggest problem at Stanford was his lack of command. In two seasons with the Cardinals, he posted a 5.89 ERA and 72 walks in 113 innings. On the bright side, he had 109 strikeouts.

Heading to Georgia, Volchko will fine-tune everything and become a mainstay in the Bulldogs’ starting rotation along with Stanford-to-Georgia right-hander Matt Scott.

AJ Gracia (Duke of Virginia)

AJ Gracia Duke

AJ Gracia reports the exodus of Blue Devils players and coaches to Virginia this offseason following their leader, Chris Pollard.

The Duke outfielder was an integral part of the Blue Devils’ second half last season, holding down center field and hitting .293 with 63 hits, 15 RBIs and 54 RBIs. His 57 walks last year were the most by a player in program history, and he earned second-team All-ACC honors.

Gracia’s production and tools make him a huge asset for the Cavaliers and an intriguing prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft. He has another big season ahead of him in Charlottesville.

Thomas Valinsius, Aidan Theel (Virginia-Mississippi State)

Before Pollard and company set up shop in Charlottesville, longtime Virginia coach Brian O’Connor traveled to Mississippi State’s opener and took several players with him.

That includes top talent like left-handed pitcher Thomas Valincius and center fielder Aidan Theel.

Even as a freshman, Valincius was one of the Cavaliers’ best arms last season. He led the team in ERA (4.59) and went 5-1 in 13 games (12 starts), striking out 70 and walking just 17. He joined his brother, Vitas Valinsius, who had transferred from Illinois.

Thiel was selected to the All-ACC 3rd Team in 2025, hitting .317 with 20 doubles, 7 home runs and 40 RBI. He was the Cavaliers’ lone starter and finished the season with 1,000 career games.

Jarren Advincula (California to Georgia Tech)

Georgia Tech coach Jared Ramsey grabbed one of California’s top transfer prospects, sophomore Jarren Advincula, before his first season.

Advincula was a second-team all-ACC selection in 2025 and was not only the Bears’ top hitter, but also one of the hardest hitters in college baseball. He led the team in hits (81), runs (48), doubles (17), stolen bases (13) and walks (22) while striking out just 45 times in 449 at-bats over two seasons.

What team wouldn’t want that number in their lineup?

The Yellow Jackets lost just one of their seven players who hit over .300 last season, making the addition of Advincula the perfect addition.

Trent Caraway (Oregon State to LSU)

Trent Caraway Oregon State

Considering how much of a role Oregon played in the 2025 Men’s College World Series, Caraway was arguably the biggest shocker to hit the transfer portal. The draft-eligible sophomore’s performance provided optimism for his junior season and potential MLB players.

He was one of the biggest players in the 2025 NCAA Tournament postseason, with five wins in five regionals and one in the Super Regional, the most by an Oregon player in the regionals, half a season (12).

The infielder brings College World Series experience and a hitting bat to a lineup of national champions.

Trey Beard (Florida Atlantic to Florida State)

Florida State lost left-handers Jamie Arnold and Joey Volini from the 2025 MLB Draft on Friday and Saturday.

Is there a way to fix this gap? Pick one of the lefties on the market with Florida Atlantic lefty Trey Beard.

The FAU standout was dominant throughout his sophomore season, posting a 7-1 record with a 3.14 ERA and 118 strikeouts and was named to the All-AAC First Team. He is the first pitcher in program history since 2013 to record more than 100 strikeouts in a season.

Beard gives the Seminoles a strong Friday/Saturday candidate to pair with starting left-hander Wes Mendes, who was FSU’s Sunday starter last season.

Will Gasparino (Texas to UCLA)

Will Gasparino Texas

After the 2025 Men’s College World Series, UCLA coach John Savage cited strength as an area of ​​improvement for the 2026 season.

The Bruins addressed that need in the transition portal, adding Texans defenseman Will Gasparino, a Los Angeles native. In two seasons for the Long Horns, he hit .247 with 25 home runs, 55 extra-base hits and 96 RBI.

Oh, he’s an outfield hawk. At 6-foot-6, there’s not much Gasparino can’t handle, as evidenced by his .992 fielding average last year.

There’s no question UCLA has postseason aspirations after reaching the MCWS in 2025, and the Bruins are expected to return all but one starter, including D1 Baseball Player of the Year Roch Cholowski. Gasparino, who slides into one opening, rounds out their lineup.

Carson Tinney (Notre Dame to Texas)

Texas landed its only 2025 D1Baseball All-American on the transfer portal this season in Notre Dame catcher Carson Tinney.

This compliment speaks for itself.

Tinney burst onto the scene last season after a quiet freshman year, hitting .348 with 17 runs scored, 13 doubles, 53 RBIs and a .753 slugging percentage. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Buster Posey Award finalist.

The departure of catcher Rylan Galvin was a blow to Texas, but Tinney’s arrival was a big boost.

Drew Whalen (Western Kentucky to Auburn)

The reigning Conference USA Pitcher of the Year joins Auburn and immediately becomes a strong job candidate for them.

Right-hander Drew Whalen was the ace for Western Kentucky last season, going 9-3 with a 3.53 ERA over 81.2 innings. He helped lead the Hilltoppers to the NCAA Regional for the first time since 2009, posting a .235 batting average with 90 hits.

Whalen has an opportunity to make an impact in Auburn’s rotation with his experience and past success.




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