Entering the college baseball transfer portal is a big decision and there are a number of considerations that you should prepare for to be successful during this transition. We have assembled the top 10 questions we get asked for both before and after you enter the portal.

Topics Before Entering the Portal

1. What is the college baseball transfer portal?
2. Is the portal available to all Division I, II, and III athletes?
3. What are the many reasons student-athletes enter the portal?
4. How does the portal actually work?

Topics After You Enter the Portal

1. Which category of players are you in? Category 1 or 2?
2. How could potential changes in roster size impact the portal this summer?
3. How tight is the portal timeline once it opens on June 2nd?
4. How to position yourself for a successful transfer?
5. What general suggestions do you have?
6. How does a recruiting advisor help you in the process?

Let’s get into it…

Topics Before Entering the Portal

1. What is the college baseball transfer portal?

The college baseball transfer portal is a database or list of players available to be contacted regarding playing at a new school. This, combined with the transfer waiver that allows players to be immediately eligible at their next institution, creates a free agency for players.

2. Is the portal available to all Division I, II, and III athletes?

The NCAA transfer portal rules for baseball differ slightly between Division I, II, and III. In Division I, athletes can enter the portal and immediately be eligible to play at a new school, provided they are academically eligible and in good standing. Division II and III have similar rules, but D III athletes do not need to enter the portal if transferring to another DIII school.

3. What are the reasons student-athletes enter the portal?

There are a variety of reasons why a student-athlete may opt for the transfer portal, including:

- Limited playing time
- Coaching changes
- Level of competition (moving up or down a level)
- Injury
- Scholarship or financial reasons
- Team culture or fit
- NIL financial opportunities
- Cut or forced out by the coaching staff

Whatever the reason, it is crucial to have clear objectives and ensure they are attainable based on your level of play.

The portal is all about production! Very few players get interest based on their potential; it’s about what you have produced on the field.

4. How does the portal actually work?

It’s relatively straightforward. Once you’ve made your decision, you walk into the compliance office at school and inform them that you would like to enter the transfer portal. You then complete some brief paperwork, and they will enter your name into the system. This informs the other coaches of your desire, and beginning June 2nd, they can contact you directly if they are interested.

If you decide to enter the portal, we suggest a brief conversation with your baseball coach. Whatever the reason, it’s important to leave on good terms. You never know, your coach may get a referral call from another coach, or your existing coach may someday become your future coach again.

Topics After Entering the Portal

1. Which category of players are you in… Category 1 or 2?

In simple terms, there are two groups of players (obviously with grey areas in between) entering the portal:

- Category 1 – Players who have had success playing college baseball
- Category 2 – Players who have had an average or below average production

For those in category 1…

You will likely get early inbound inquiries. Come June 2nd, coaches begin to review the portal and proactively reach out to players they are interested in pursuing. However, this doesn’t mean you should wait for the phone to ring, but you may have an easier time in your pursuits.

Also it’s important to keep in mind that performance in college baseball is relative and it’s evaluated in the context of the conference your program plays in during the spring season.

For those in category 2…

There are a few considerations that you should be mindful of, including having a plan. In many ways, it is similar to your recruiting experience in high school, with one significant difference. The timeline is very tight, 45-60 days.

2. How could potential changes in roster size impact the portal this summer?

College baseball may experience a reduction in roster size beginning this summer. For the 2025 Division I baseball season, the roster limit may be reduced from 40 to 34 players. If this happens, it could mean that the portal would be busier than ever beginning this June.

More athletes and fewer spots would make the portal more competitive than ever.

3. How tight is the portal timeline once it opens on June 2nd?

Perhaps the least appreciated characteristic of the portal is that fact that the timeline is extremely tight and every passing day matters.

The portal opens on June 2nd, and you’re looking to step onto a new campus come late August. Once a coach commits to you, your application still needs to go through admissions and various other administrative hurdles. That leaves you with a 45-60 day window, with every day that passes meaning slots getting filled.

Needless to say, the timeline to make a switch is very tight.

4. How to position yourself for a successful transfer?

Given the tight timeline and crowded transfer portal, there are two topics that are very relevant to a successful transfer.

What are your objectives?

Are you looking to transfer to the most prominent school with limited playing time, or are you looking for a school where you can actually play often and become a significant contributor.

Are you realistic about your abilities?

Unlike high school, where local stats may not represent your actual abilities (up or down), in college, your stats have relevance. Coaches know what it means to have a 2.90 ERA or a .450 batting average in a given conference. If you think you should be playing in the ACC and your abilities don’t match up, you may have a difficult time in the portal.

As mentioned earlier, the portal is all about production! Very few players get interest based on their potential; it’s about what you have produced on the field.

Set your your objectives and be realistic.

5. What general suggestions do you have?

Clearly define your objective for transferring. The grass isn’t always greener, so trying to move on to any new program might not be the best plan. Ultimately it comes down to:

- Having a good understanding of your skills
- Being realistic about your abilities and prospects
- Having a plan

Given the tight timeline, the last piece is extremely important. Once the portal opens, you need to hit the ground running. The clock is ticking.

6. How does a recruiting advisor help you in the process?

A well-established recruiting advisor who is in constant contact with college coaches will have a good understanding of the needs and requirements for many programs. Our job is basically to short-circuit the process.

Let’s say you’re a catcher interested in University XYZ. If University XYZ already has a sophomore stud catcher, they’re likely to be filling in other positions. Knowing which programs are looking for what positions can be extremely helpful in a very tight and competitive timeline.

While an understanding of the changing roster needs is important, a lot of the early work is what sets a player up for success. The ability to build a sound strategy is imperative.

As a part of our advisory program, we conduct the following process to help advise transfer portal players:

- Season statistical analysis and review
- Game tape breakdown (Synergy or submitted by the player)
- Feedback on the projected level of college baseball
- Review the proposed recruiting strategy

Hope this has been helpful. If interested, you can click below and pick a time slot we can connect to discuss your situation.

By Sam Sharf and Bahram Shirazi (RPP Baseball)

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