Memphis has added three pitchers from the transfer portal:

Memphis has started adding players from the college baseball transfer portal, as Matt Riser looks to build off the strong end to the 2026 season. The Tigers finished the year 24-34 but looked much better towards the end of the year, winning three of their final five series and a pair of games in the conference tournament.

While they showed some promise at the end of the year, Riser will have a busy offseason as he looks to put together the roster for 2027. Memphis graduated several key players, and nine players have entered the transfer portal.

Among the nine transfers, five are pitchers, including starter Will Howell and closer Carson Fair. The Tigers have been busy looking to add some arms to the roster, and recently landed three pitchers from the transfer portal.

RHP Conner Johnson (Oral Roberts)

Conner Johnson wrapped up his sophomore season with Oral Roberts and made 18 appearances over the last two seasons. The Golden Eagles won a combined 72 games over the last two years and lost in the conference championship game both seasons.

As a freshman, he appeared in two games, making one start, and he posted a 14.40 ERA with three strikeouts in five innings. He allowed a .440 batting average, and he allowed eight earned runs on 11 hits.

As a sophomore, Johnson appeared in 16 games, including nine starts, and he finished the year with a 6.98 ERA in 49 innings. He allowed a .304 batting average, and he allowed 38 earned runs, including 14 home runs.

RHP Cayden Baker (Baylor)

Cayden Baker just finished his redshirt freshman season at Baylor and will join the Tigers for his redshirt sophomore season. Baker redshirted his first season due to an injury, and he returned to the mound in 2026.

As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in 13 games, making five starts, and he posted an 8.24 ERA in 19.2 innings. He struck out eight and walked nine batters, and he allowed opposing batters to hit .300 against him.

Baker is from Olive Branch and attended Lewisburg High School. He helped lead Lewisburg to a state championship in 2023, and he was the No. 13 player in Mississippi, according to Perfect Game.

RHP Carter Casabella (Tennessee Tech)

Carter Casabella spent the last two seasons at Tennessee Tech, and he has pitched 114 innings. The right-handed pitcher stands at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, and he was a two-time District 9-3A MVP in high school at Station Camp High School in Gallatin, Tennessee.

In his first season, Casabella appeared in 17 games, making nine starts, and he finished the season with a 4-2 record and a 5.67 ERA. He struck out 30 batters and allowed 29 earned runs in 46 innings. 

The pitcher returned to Tennessee Tech for a second season and made nine starts in 16 appearances, but he finished the season with a 2-6 record and a 6.22 ERA. He struck out 46 batters, but he allowed 47 earned runs in 68 innings.