The 2025 college baseball transfer portal summer cycle has featured many big-name players across the country that have traded in their old threads for new ones this offseason.
Some were decisions based on coaching changes, while others wanted to enter conferences like the SEC and ACC to put their talents to the test.
And now that the tide has settled and most portal targets have made their decision before the 2025-26 school year started, here are 12 of the biggest transfers at the start of September.
Henry Ford (Virginia to Tennessee)
The Volunteers made huge splashes in the transfer portal, the biggest fish being Virginia’s Henry Ford.
A draft-eligible sophomore, the outfielder and first baseman mashed for the Cavaliers. He hit .348 with 28 homers and 115 RBI in two seasons at Virginia, picking up a Second Team All-ACC selection in 2025.
That stat line has “MLB draft pick” written all over it.
However, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound player wasn’t selected in the 2025 MLB draft, electing to head to Knoxville and become a major piece in Tennessee’s 2026 plans. The Volunteers produced the most Day 1 draft picks in this year’s draft, leaving multiple holes in their projected lineup for next season. Ford’s addition shores some of that up.
Chris Hacopian (Maryland to Texas A&M)
Chris Hacopian has been one of the best hitters in the Big Ten for the past two seasons and seemed to become one of the conference’s household names entering his junior season. The shortstop received consecutive Second Team All-Big Ten selections.
He hit .375 with 14 homers and 61 RBI this past season, leading the Terrapins in hits (72), doubles (12) and OPS (1.158).
Texas A&M now gets to reap those benefits, dropping Hacopian into the right side of the defense with third baseman Gavin Grahovac, the 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year who missed most of last season due a left shoulder injury.
Another strong season for Hacopian, specifically in the SEC, will be huge for the Aggies and his potential 2026 draft plans.
Joey Volchko (Stanford to Georgia)
Another big name is heading into the depths of the SEC, and it’s one of the most tantalizing arms.
Right-hander Joey Volchko has one of the best toolboxes in the country: an electric fastball that touches triple digits on occasion and a head-turning, nasty slider. That doesn’t include his 6-foot-4, long and lanky frame.
The biggest problem Volchko faced at Stanford was his lack of command. Across his two seasons for the Cardinal, he held a 5.89 ERA and finished with 72 walks across 113 innings. On the plus side, he tallied 109 strikeouts.
Heading to Georgia, Volchko will look to fine-tune things and become a key arm to the Bulldogs’ starting rotation alongside right-hander Matt Scott, who transferred to Georgia from Stanford as well.
Want a minute of Joey Volchko filth? Sure you do.
The @StanfordBSB RHP stymied a tough UNC lineup this afternoon, pitching 5.1 scoreless with 6 K’s and just 2 BB’s. Up to 97, pitched primarily off 88-92 MPH SL with tight shape, flashed low-90s CH and mid-80s CB.
Huge upside. pic.twitter.com/c2WrkPuNjC
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) March 9, 2025
AJ Gracia (Duke to Virginia)
AJ Gracia headlined the mass exodus of Blue Devils players and coaches that followed their leader, Chris Pollard, to Virginia this offseason.
The Duke outfielder was an essential part of the Blue Devils, specifically in the second half of last season, holding down center field while hitting .293 with 63 hits, 15 home runs and 54 RBI. His 57 walks last year was the most by a player in program history, and he earned All-ACC Second Team honors.
Gracia’s production and tools make him such an asset for the Cavaliers and an intriguing 2026 MLB draft prospect. Expect another big season for him in Charlottesville.
Tomas Valincius & Aidan Teel (Virginia to Mississippi State)
Before Pollard and company set up shop in Charlottesville, longtime Virginia coach Brian O’Connor left for the Mississippi State opening and took a few players with him.
This included top talent like left-handed pitcher Tomas Valincius and center fielder Aidan Teel.
Valincius was one of the Cavaliers’ best arms last season, even as a freshman. He led the team in ERA (4.59) and went 5-1 across 13 appearances (12 starts) while striking out 70 and walking just 17. He joins his older brother, Vytas Valincius, who transferred in from Illinois.
Teel was an All-ACC Third Team selection in 2025, hitting .317 with 20 doubles, seven home runs and 40 RBI. He was the only Cavaliers starter to end the season with a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Jarren Advincula (California to Georgia Tech)
Ahead of his first season at the helm, Georgia Tech coach Jared Ramsey snagged one of the top transfer portal players in California second baseman Jarren Advincula.
Advincula was an Second Team All-ACC selection in 2025 and was not only arguably the Bears’ best hitter, but one of the toughest outs in all of college baseball. He led the team in hits (81), runs (48), doubles (17), stolen bases (13) and walks (22) and struck out just 45 times in his two seasons out of 449 at-bats.
What team wouldn’t want these kinds of numbers in their lineup?
The Yellow Jackets lost just one of their seven players who hit over .300 last season in shortstop Kyle Lodise, making the addition of Advincula the perfect addition.
ACC leader in hits ✅
🔟 game hitting streak ✅
AND Jarren Advincula has reached base safely in 25 out of the last 26 games ✅✅#GoBears pic.twitter.com/TsPybHUzgn— Cal Baseball (@CalBaseball) April 22, 2025
Trent Caraway (Oregon State to LSU)
Caraway was arguably the biggest shocker to hit the transfer portal, taking into account how big of a role he played in Oregon State’s 2025 Men’s College World Series run. The draft-eligible sophomore’s performance provided optimism for his junior season and potential MLB suitors.
He was one of the biggest postseason risers in the 2025 NCAA tournament, blasting five home runs in five games during the regionals and another in the super regionals — the most by an Oregon State player in a regional round and half of his season total (12).
The infielder brings College World Series experience and an impact bat to the reigning national champions’ lineup.
Trey Beard (Florida Atlantic to Florida State)
Florida State lost its Friday and Saturday starting pitchers to the 2025 MLB draft in left-handers Jamie Arnold and Joey Volini.
One way to fix that gaping hole? Go pick up one of the top left-handers on the market with Florida Atlantic lefty Trey Beard.
The FAU ace was dominant throughout his sophomore season, securing a 7-1 record with a 3.14 ERA and 118 strikeouts across 86 innings of work to make All-AAC First Team. He’s the first pitcher in program history to record 100-plus strikeouts in a single season since 2013.
Beard gives the Seminoles a strong Friday/Saturday candidate to pair with starting left-hander Wes Mendes, who was the Sunday starter for FSU last season.
Will Gasparino (Texas to UCLA)
After the 2025 Men’s College World Series, UCLA coach John Savage mentioned physical strength as an area of improvement for the 2026 season.
The Bruins addressed that need in the transfer portal, adding Texas outfielder Will Gasparino, a power bat and Los Angeles native. In his two seasons for the Longhorns, he hit .247 with 25 home runs, 55 extra-base hits and 96 RBI.
Oh, and he is a hawk in the outfield. At 6-foot-6, there isn’t much Gasparino can’t get to, reflected in his .992 fielding percentage last year.
There’s no question that UCLA has postseason aspirations after reaching the MCWS in 2025, and the Bruins are expected to return all but one starter, including D1Baseball Player of the Year shortstop Roch Cholowsky. Gasparino, who slides into the one opening, rounds out their lineup.
Carson Tinney (Notre Dame to Texas)
Texas landed the only 2025 D1Baseball All-American in the transfer portal this offseason in Notre Dame catcher Carson Tinney.
That accolade speaks for itself.
Tinney exploded onto the scene last season after a quiet freshman year, hitting .348 with 17 home runs, 13 doubles, 53 RBI and a .753 slugging percentage. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was a Buster Posey Award finalist.
The departure of catcher Rylan Galvin was a blow to Texas, but Tinney’s arrival was a big get.
Carson Tinney was EN FUEGO down the stretch for @NDBaseball 🔥🔥@carson_tinney x @rapsodo pic.twitter.com/CZOClGVUER
— D1Baseball (@d1baseball) August 5, 2025
Drew Whalen (Western Kentucky to Auburn)
The Conference USA Pitcher of the Year is joining Auburn and immediately becomes a strong workhorse candidate for them.
Right-hander Drew Whalen was Western Kentucky’s ace last season, going 9-3 with a 3.53 ERA over 81.2 innings. He helped lead the Hilltoppers to their first NCAA Regional appearance since 2009 and held batters to a .235 batting average with 90 strikeouts.
With his experience and previous success at WKU, Whalen has the opportunity to make an impact in Auburn’s rotation.
