The NCAA transfer portal has been closed for college baseball for a week now, though a few late names were added to lists published by sites like D1Baseball and 64Analytics. One of those last-minute additions was Arizona’s Kade Thompson, who redshirted as a freshman but was expected to compete for playing time at catcher in 2026.
Thompson is one of 10 Wildcats from the 2025 squad that have entered the portal, a group that includes only two players who were part of the 27-man playoff roster during the push to the College World Series. Reserve infielder TJ Adams appeared in three postgame games, scoring the winning run as a pinch runner in the Super Regional-clinching victory at North Carolina, while right-hander Bryce McKnight pitched in the Super Regional loss at UNC.
Combined, the 10 players the UA lost to the portal had 97 at-bats and tallied 34.1 innings on the mound. All in all, not that much to replace, certainly not compared to the losses from players who are out of eligibility or who are expected to go in next week’s 2025 MLB Draft and sign pro deals.
So far Arizona has gotten commitments from seven Division I transfers. The group doesn’t include any big names but each pickup figures to have a chance to play a notable role next season.
The Wildcats have three position players, each of whom could replace a departed starter in 2026, as well as four arms that will help bolster the bullpen or provide options for the weekend rotation.
- Here’s a look at the seven portal commitments:
- IF Tyler Bickers (Milwaukee): Bickers led the Panthers and was third in the Horizon League with a .369 batting average. He had four home runs and 42 RBI with 87 hits, 47 walks and a .484 on-base percentage. He spent two seasons at Milwaukee, starting 113 games in the infield, and figures to be the heir apparent to Garen Caulfield at second base. He will be a 5th-year senior in 2026, taking advantage of the NCAA’s decision to give players with junior college experience and extra year of eligibility.
- RHP JT Drake (Texas Tech): Drake went 0-1 with a 5.93 ERA in 15 relief outings for the Red Raiders in 2025, with only three walks in 13.2 innings against 10 strikeouts. He did not allow an earned run in 10 appearances including one against Arizona on April 26 when he struck out Andrew Cain in a perfect frame. Before Texas Tech, Drake spent two years at Pima College where he played alongside UA reliever Garrett Hicks.
- LHP Luc Fladda (Tulane): Arizona was sorely lacking in lefty arms in 2025, the only start from a southpaw coming from freshman Mason Russell—who could be in the mix for the rotation next season—in a midweek game. If that doesn’t pan out Fladda would be another option, as in two seasons with the Green Wave he made 30 starts and threw 159.2 innings. His numbers weren’t great, particularly the 5.69 ERA and .295 opposing batting average, but he only walked in 76.2 innings in 2025 and should benefit from Arizona’s pitching lab. He’s also using an extra season thanks to his time spent in JUCO.
- RHP Corey Kling (South Florida): The most recent commit, Kling both started and relieved last season with the Bulls where he was 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 14 appearances covering 30 innings. He walked seven with 18 strikeouts. Currently playing for the Ocean State Waves in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, Kling has made five starts and sports a 2.25 ERA over 20 innings.
- OF Carson McEntire (Oregon State): McEntire spent two seasons with the Beavers, redshirting in 2024 and then playing in 26 games with 11 starts in 2025. The last of those starts was in the Super Regionals when he played right field and homered in a 7-run first inning that helped send OSU to the College World Series. McEntire hit .238 for the season with four homers and 10 RBI, played in two of OSU’s three CWS games and will be in the running to replace Aaron Walton in center.
- LHP Patrick Morris (Western Kentucky): Another former JUCO player that is making the most of his extra year of eligibility, Morris was downright filthy for the Hilltoppers this past season. In 17 appearances, including two starts, he was 2-0 with a 1.11 ERA and .177 opposing batting average in 32.1 innings. He got a save in regionals by throwing 3.2 scoreless innings in a win over Kennesaw State.
- C Beau Sylvester (Oklahoma State): Sylvester played three seasons for the Cowboys, getting into 51 games with 33 starts. This past year saw him hit .266 with two homers and 10 RBI splitting time mostly between DH and catcher. He started behind the plate in the series finale at Hi Corbett Field in April and could contend for Adonys Guzman’s job.