- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,212,758
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 22: The North Carolina Tar Heels stand for the National Anthem before game three of the Division I Baseball Championship against the Oklahoma Sooners held at Charles Schwab Field on June 22, 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
As the Carolina baseball team embarked on a run to the College World Series finals last month, Scott Forbes and his staff were also building a strong class of transfers.
A total of 10 players have committed to join the Tar Heels out of the portal, most of whom did so in June. Since you (understandably) might have been too locked in on the action in Chapel Hill and Omaha to pay attention to recruiting, here’s a quick primer on each of them.
RHP Jake Moss (Penn)
Moss announced he’d be using his final season of eligibility at Carolina back in October (the Ivy League doesn’t allow athletes to compete for more than four years). He stepped into a starting role for the first time this spring, getting the nod for seven games and coming out of the bullpen in four others. He posted a 6.08 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 25 walks in 47.1 innings, and opponents hit .295 against him. He was named to the Ivy League all-tournament team as a junior in 2025.
OF CJ Egrie (Holy Cross)
Egrie was another early pickup, committing to UNC for his final season in November (Holy Cross doesn’t offer graduate degrees). He comes to Chapel Hill after winning back-to-back Patriot League Player of the Year honors and helping Holy Cross reach back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. This season, he put up a conference-best .325 batting average with three home runs and 22 RBI, drew 38 walks, and finished second in Division I with 46 stolen bases. He was caught stealing just twice.
SS Davis Baker (Penn)
Baker announced his commitment on April 8. He was a four-year starter at shortstop for Penn but suffered a season-ending injury just seven games into the 2026 campaign. He was an All-Ivy League selection in each of his first three seasons, earning second team honors as a junior after hitting .277 with eight home runs and 39 RBI. He carries a career fielding percentage of .943.
LHP Joey Ruller (Queens)
Ruller, who will have one year of eligibility, announced his commitment on May 28. He was Queens’ ace this season, starting 14 games and recording a 4.47 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 25 walks in 90.2 innings. Opponents hit .263 against him, a massive improvement from the .342 mark he allowed in 2025.
C Devin Russell (Maryland)
Russell, who will have one year of eligibility, announced his commitment on June 3. He initially split games behind the plate for Maryland this season but became the primary starter late in the campaign. He hit .250 with nine home runs and 26 RBI in 26 games and was named Big Ten Player of the Week after hitting a walk-off grand slam against Indiana on April 12.
SS Jamie Laskofski (William & Mary)
Laskofski announced his commitment on June 6 after a banner sophomore season that saw him named CAA Player of Year. He hit .355 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI, drew 41 walks, and stole 36 bases, including a program-record five in one game (March 22 vs NC A&T). He carries a career fielding percentage of .922.
RHP James Voorhies (Cal State Northridge)
Voorhies (who goes by Jimmy on his social media pages) announced his commitment on June 18. He stepped into the closer role for CSUN as a true freshman this season and earned honorable mention All-Big West recognition after logging five saves with a 3.16 ERA, 46 strikeouts (tied for the team lead), and 14 walks in 42.2 innings. Opponents hit .180 against him.
OF Blaize Johnson (UNC Asheville)
Johnson, who will enter UNC as a junior, announced his commitment on June 24. He was a starter in the outfield in both of his seasons in Asheville and earned first team All-Big South honors as a sophomore, hitting .346 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI and drawing 40 walks.
RHP Preston Crowl (Virginia Tech)
Crowl, who’s entering his fourth year of college, announced his commitment on June 25. He was a major piece of Virginia Tech’s bullpen this season, pitching 47.1 innings across 24 games and leading the team with five saves. He made a brief appearance against Carolina in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, facing three batters in the eighth inning (Macon Winslow took him deep for a two-run home run). He finished the year with a 7.61 ERA, 48 strikeouts, and 26 walks. Opponents hit .279 against him.
RHP Scott Doran (Coastal Carolina)
Doran, who will enter UNC as a junior, announced his commitment on June 26. He was primarily a bullpen arm in both of his seasons at Coastal Carolina, although he did get two starts this year–including a six-inning outing against Ole Miss on March 1 in which he allowed two earned runs on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks. He ended the season with a 4.76 ERA, 39 strikeouts, and 12 walks in 28.1 innings. He was credited with two saves, and opponents hit .196 against him.
Continue reading...
