The pandemic continues to have lasting effects on college baseball as players impacted by the loss of the 2020 season decide how to use the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA.
Many college coaches are tasked with trying to fit five classes of players onto one roster, while Ivy League coaches may even be juggling six.
There are many reasons for college players to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. Some do not foresee a roster spot or a road to playing time on their current teams next season. Others may be following the suggestion of their respective coaches. Others may just be looking for a change in scenery.
Players opting to go into the transfer portal are not required to transfer or guaranteeing they will transfer, but it leaves the door open — and allows other schools’ coaches to speak with them. Here’s a look at 15 impact players who are currently in the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Shayne Audet
RHP, New England College
Springfield, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195
Audet could be a major addition for any program after earning 2022 NECC Pitcher of the Year in his first full season back from two elbow surgeries. He posted a 1.61 ERA, a .130 opponent batting average, and a 14.13 strikeout per nine innings average.
Alex Bryant
RHP, Holy Cross
Tampa, Fla.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Bryant shut it down in April due to injury after a promising 2021 campaign. Last spring, he was named Holy Cross Rookie of the Year after posting a 4-2 record and 3.86 ERA. He earned NECBL All-Star honors last summer with the Vermont Mountaineers.
Daniel Burnett
INF, University of Hartford
Granville, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 185
Burnett will likely explore other D1 options with Hartford beginning its transition to D3. The Hartford staff likes Burnett’s bat, and for good reason. He was a run-producer this spring, with a .275 batting average, seven home runs and 34 RBI in 40 games.
Wyatt Cameron
RHP, New England College
Salisbury, Vt.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 180
Cameron was a valuable part of the NEC pitching staff, posting a 4-1 record and 3.98 ERA in 12 appearances, including five starts. He struck out 45 batters in 31.2 innings. While playing with the Vermont Lake Monsters of the Futures League last summer, he was voted by fans as the top player from the state of Vermont.
Jimmy Evans
OF, Tufts
Norwalk, Conn.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 5-8 | Weight: 180
Evans was a middle-of-the-order bat for Tufts this spring, hitting .329 with six home runs, 29 RBI and 39 runs scored in 35 games. He was also a postseason force for the Vermont Lake Monsters in the Futures League last summer.
Randy Flores
2B, Franklin Pierce
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Bats: Left | Throws: Right
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 150
Franklin Pierce’s leadoff hitter and starting second baseman hit .346 with a 1.012 OPS this season, and he still has two years of eligibility remaining. He led the Ravens in hitting and displayed some pop with seven home runs.
Ramon Jimenez
1B, Boston College
Chicopee, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 225
Jimenez was a highly coveted recruit out of Chicopee High, where he was a two-time All-State selection, but he never carved out a role as an everyday starter in four years at BC. This year, he backed up one of the top power hitters in New England in Joe Vetrano.
Sam Kirkpatrick
2B, Holy Cross
Franklin, Tenn.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 195
Kirkpatrick had a productive sophomore season at Holy Cross this spring, leading the team in runs scored (28), hits (54) and total bases (65).
Thomas Lapham
3B, Babson College
Charlestown, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190
Lapham led Babson in hitting (.331), runs scored (41) and stolen bases (12) this spring, and the recent graduate still has a year of eligibility remaining due to the pandemic.
Bobby McBride
RHP, UConn
Brewster, N.Y.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 193
McBride emerged as UConn’s top freshman performer in the fall of 2020, when he posted a 1.54 ERA over 11.2 innings. That production never really carried over to the spring season at UConn, as he’s pitched a total of three innings in each of his first two seasons.
Sam Parks
OF, Bryant University
Marion, Mass.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 5-8 | Weight: 165
The speedy outfielder didn’t see the field at Bryant as a freshman after a legendary career at Tabor Academy. As a senior last spring, Parks led the Seawolves with a .483 average and 1.366 OPS. He was 14 of 14 in stolen base attempts.
Derek Tenney
INF, University of Hartford
Wethersfield, Conn.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185
Likely motivated to enter the NCAA Portal by Hartford’s transition to D3, Tenney could be a nice get for another D1 program. He hit .330 with 10 home runs and a .971 OPS this spring.
Nick Wang
3B, Holy Cross
Newton, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 200
It’s a bit of a surprise to see the former Phillips Exeter and BB&N product in the NCAA Portal after a productive freshman season. He led the team with a .369 batting average, 1.042 OPS, 18 doubles and three home runs.
Jaren Zinn
RHP, Harvard
Chevy Chase, Md.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Zinn’s career at Harvard was disrupted by injuries and a pandemic, but he has a pro breaking ball and some Ivy League experience. He made 11 starts for the Crimson this spring, posting a 3-3 record and 7.50 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 42 innings.
