Baylor Baseball’s Biggest Needs in the Transfer Portal
Mitch Thompson’s second season as head coach of the Baylor baseball program has come to an end. The Bears (22-31, 10-20) missed the Big 12 Tournament for the second consecutive year and the second time in program history.
Now, the focus shifts to a critical offseason in which Thompson will have to hire a new pitching coach, rebuild a pitching staff and retain the current talent on the roster. Today, I’ll address Baylor’s biggest needs in the transfer portal, which opens Monday, June 3.
Pitching, Pitching, Pitching, Pitching & More Pitching
Last Wednesday, sources confirmed to SicEm365 that James Leverton was out as Baylor’s pitching coach after two seasons. Under Leverton, the Bears pitching staff struggled immensely. In 2024, BU had the highest ERA (6.51) in the Big 12 and the fourth-highest in the Power Five. Baylor was also last in the conference in free passes issued (340) and second-to-last in batting average against (.284).
With a hire expected in the coming weeks, it’s imperative that the new pitching coach specializes in development and understands how to navigate the transfer portal. Thompson and the new pitching coach must completely retool the staff and add at least five proven arms via the transfer portal – preferably two or three starters and a handful of bullpen pieces.
Some of the younger arms, namely RJ Ruais (Fr.), Mason Green (Fr.), Collin McKinney (RFr.) and Tanner Duke (RFr.), had good moments this spring and should improve, but there are a ton of unknowns with the returning upperclassmen.
What makes things even dicier for the coaching staff this offseason is that two major questions will remain unanswered for quite a while. Is Friday starter Mason Marriott (Jr.) going to return for his senior year? And is high-profile recruit Brayden Bergman going to come to Baylor or play professionally?
Marriott had a rather impressive season that probably won’t get as much shine because he struggled in three of his last four outings, but he led the team with eight starts where he went at least five innings while surrendering three or fewer earned runs. Marriott is expected to test the MLB Draft waters this summer; if he returns, however, that would be a huge boost to the 2025 roster.
Bergman can reach the mid-to-upper 90s on his fastball and would instantly be the hardest throwing arm on the team as soon as he gets on campus. Baylor hasn’t had any players of Bergman’s skillset in recent years. If he doesn’t sign with an MLB team this July, he has the potential to be a game-changer prospect for the Bears.
On a positive note, lefty Ethan Calder (So.) had a phenomenal spring and is someone the pitching staff can be built around. The All-Big 12 southpaw had the fourth-lowest ERA (3.23) among qualified pitchers in the conference and led the Bears' pitching staff in WHIP (1.11), wins (5) and saves (2). Thompson hinted toward the end of the season that Calder would be moved into the starting rotation next spring.
Slugging First Baseman
With a rising senior class of about eight key position-player contributors, I contend that Baylor’s batting order has enough talent to be in the top half of the Big 12 in 2025 without any additions. While it's not as high of a priority as adding arms, the Bears could reach another level if Thompson can secure a slugging first baseman from the portal with double-digit homer potential.
In recent memory, Baylor hasn’t had the prototypical power-hitting first baseman on its roster. This past season, Will Pendergrass (RJr.) was lost for the year in mid-March, Missouri State transfer Mason Greer (Sr.) didn’t work out at the position and 5-foot-10, 190-pound Cole Posey (Sr.) was thrust into the starting job for the final month and a half.
If Thompson were to play it safe and stick with the players he has on the current roster, there are multiple potential options.
Outfielder Gavin Brzozowski (RSo.) was practicing some at first base last spring before being lost for the season with a knee injury. Brzozowski has some pop and showed major promise to end his redshirt freshman campaign in 2023. As an outfielder next year, however, he’ll have difficulty seeing the field behind Hunter Simmons (Sr.), Wesley Jordan (Jr.), Ty Johnson (Jr.) and Enzo Apodaca (RJr.) unless he makes a position switch.
After back-to-back season-ending injuries early in conference play, it’ll be interesting to see whether Pendergrass will return for a fifth year of college. Pendergrass routinely displayed a great glove and has the ability to hit for average but has 10 total extra-base hits across 107 at-bats in a Baylor uniform. If a transfer is brought in, Pendergrass could also see some playing time at third base.
Some potential younger players, such as Brayden Buchanan (Fr.) or John Youens (Fr.), could also step up.
Versatile Middle Infielder
Pitching should be the main priority this offseason. Still though, if the coaching staff can find a depth piece similar to this year’s second baseman, Daniel Altman (Sr.), it would be a welcomed addition.
Next spring the starting middle infield duo will likely be shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Jr.) and second baseman Jack Little (So.).
Kemp, who struggled mightily over the first two months of the season, raised his batting average from .153 on March 29 to .238 on May 18. Shortstop is a position that comes at a premium price in the portal and riding with Kemp is probably the most logical decision.
Little was slated to be the starting second baseman before going on the shelf a week before the season started. The Wichita State transfer is someone the coaching staff was very high on earlier this spring, but he still remains a bit of a question mark health-wise.
Whether the coaching staff brings in a depth piece or trusts an incoming freshman or underclassman to take a leap will be something to monitor. Regardless, seeing how Thompson allocates his resources this offseason will be interesting. Baylor will have more NIL money to work with this summer for acquisitions, but I anticipate most of that going toward rebuilding the pitching staff.
Stay tuned for Baylor baseball offseason coverage on SicEm365