Editor’s note: The following article was published first on d1baseball.com. Right now, you can get 30% off any sub at D1 with code: SUMMER30.
Every year hundreds of talented JUCO players transfer to NCAA Division I four-year colleges around the country looking to make an impact. Last season, no JUCO transfer had a greater impact than Gage Miller (Alabama), who made an immediate and profound difference for the Crimson Tide. The everyday third baseman batted in the middle of the Crimson Tide’s lineup, slashing .381/.474/.702 with 18 home runs. He was selected in the third round, 92nd overall by the Marlins.
Other impact hitters and top-five round picks included Florida State OF/C Marco Dinges (4th round; Brewers) and Coastal Carolina INF Sam Antonacci (5th round; White Sox).
As we move into the 2025 college spring season, here are 50 impact JUCO transfers that we’ll be closely watching. Some could become high-round draft picks like those mentioned above, and others will simply impact their club as everyday regulars. Our rankings are not solely based on prospect status but are a combination of their anticipated role and their current projected draft value.
1. Cade Climie, 3B, Houston (Blinn JUCO, TX): The 6-foot-2, 225-pound right-handed slugger was named the NJCAA World Series MVP as Blinn won the JUCO Natty in Grand Junction. He batted .394 with 20 home runs and 76 RBIs last spring and hasn’t stopped hitting. Climie also stood out this past summer in the MLB Draft League, batting .352 in 19 games for State College. Now in Houston, Climie opened even more pro scouting eyes with a loud fall in the batter’s box for the Cougars.
2. Brent Iredale, 3B, Arkansas (New Mexico JUCO): The Aussie batted .441 with 25 home runs, 78 RBIs and stole 24 bases last spring for the Thunderbirds. He continued to rake this fall in Fayetteville and is currently projected to start at the hot corner for the Razorbacks this spring. Iredale could become this season’s version of Gage Miller.
3. Chris Arroyo, 1B, Virginia (Pasco-Hernando CC, FL): A two-way talent, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound slugger is penciled in to start at first base and hit in the middle of the Hoos’ lineup. Arroyo is also a leading candidate for the Sunday starter’s role on the mound. He began his collegiate career at Florida, where he focused solely on pitching and tossed just 5.1 innings during his freshman season in 2023. This past spring at Pasco-Hernando CC, Arroyo missed 12 games due to an injury, but still banged 19 home runs to go along with a .403 batting average. Arroyo’s top tool is his 70-grade raw power to go along with above-average hit ability.
Remainder of the top 50:
| Rank | Player | Position | College | Junior College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Ryan Wideman | OF | Western Kentucky | Georgia Highlands |
| 5 | Dawson Willis | SS | Oklahoma | LSU Eunice |
| 6 | Bryce Fowler | OF | Alabama | Pearl River (Miss.) |
| 7 | Brandon Cain | OF | Oklahoma | Gulf Coast (Miss.) |
| 8 | Derek Cerda | OF | Kansas | Western Oklahoma State |
| 9 | Hollis Porter | 1B | Maryland | Pearl River (Miss.) |
| 10 | Andrew Walters | SS/3B | Cal Baptist | Mt San Antonio (Calif.) |
| 11 | Cayden Gaskin | 2B | South Carolina | NW Florida State College |
| 12 | Justin Thomas, Jr. | OF | Arkansas | Florida SouthWestern |
| 13 | Chase Williams | OF | Florida State | Northwest Florida State |
| 14 | Brayden Smith | OF | Oklahoma State | Iowa Western |
| 15 | Blaydon Plain | OF/1B | Florida State | Pensacola State (Fla.) |
| 16 | Gehrig Goldbeck | SS | Missouri | Kansas City (Kan.) |
| 17 | Max Soliz, Jr. | C | Kansas | Chattahoochee Valley (Tenn.) |
| 18 | Jake Munroe | 3B | Louisville | John Logan (Ill.) |
| 19 | Richard Bonomolo | OF | Alabama | Wabash Valley (Ill.) |
| 20 | Jonathan Hernandez | OF | ASU | Central Arizona |
| 21 | Cody Gunderson | C/1B | Charlotte | Hutchinson (Kan.) |
| 22 | Eli Gipson | OF | Indiana State | Northwest Shoals (Ala.) |
| 23 | Jason Jelic | C/DH | Xavier | Wake Tech (N.C.) |
| 24 | Kooper Schulte | SS | Iowa | Southeastern (Iowa) |
| 25 | Robby Bolin | OF | Nebraska | Barton County (Kan.) |
| 26 | Jaxon Sorenson | 3B | Liberty | Iowa Western CC |
| 27 | Brady Ballinger | INF | Kansas | Southern Nevada |
| 28 | Brayden Fraasman | OF | NC State | Lincoln Trail (Ill.) |
| 29 | Kyle Hvidsten | UTL | Western Kentucky | Iowa Western |
| 30 | Gavin Balius | OF | Ball State | Mott (Mich.) |
| 31 | Nate Earley | 1B | Louisville | Florida SouthWestern |
| 32 | Aidan Dougherty | UTL | UConn | Linn-Benton |
| 33 | AJ Singer | INF | Oregon State | Iowa Western |
| 34 | Sean Darnell | INF | Troy | Wallace Dothan CC |
| 35 | Will Johannes | C/1B | Illinois | Madison College (Wis.) |
| 36 | Miles Risley | OF | Iowa | Kikrwood (Ia.) |
| 37 | Josh Wakefield | OF | Grand Canyon | Iowa Western |
| 38 | Roger Vergara | 2B | East Carolina | St. John’s River State |
| 39 | Caden Dulin | INF | Pittsburgh | Rowan CC South Jersey |
| 40 | Rom Kellis | OF/C | North Carolina | Florence-Darlington (S.C.) |
| 41 | Colby Thorndyke | 1B | Coastal Carolina | Brunswick (N.C.) |
| 42 | Cole Smith | 3B | Bradley | Southeastern (Ia.) |
| 43 | Weston Fulk | 1B | Indiana State | LSU-Eunice |
| 44 | Alex Conover | OF | Oklahoma State | Cowley (Kan.) |
| 45 | Landen Johnson | 1B | High Point | Wabash Valley (Ill.) |
| 46 | Emil Estrella | OF | Indiana State | Bossier Parish (La.) |
| 47 | Easton Swofford | 2B | Liberty | Crowder (Mo.) |
| 48 | Thomas Marsala | OF | Western Kentucky | Hines (Miss.) |
| 49 | Greg LaChance | SS | Illinois | Jefferson County (Mo.) |
| 50 | Avery Moore | OF | Purdue | Southeastern (Ia.) |
