With transfer season now upon us in college baseball, the Wildcats are losing some valuable pitching assets.
It's that time of year for baseball programs.
Players pack their bags and look towards what's next, and for Northwestern pitcher Matt Kouser, his future will be in a different uniform.
Kouser announced he would entering the transfer portal on May 29.
"I want to thank Northwestern and the coaches for believing in me and giving me an opportunity," Kouser wrote on his X account. "With that being said, I will be entering the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining."
While the 2027 season feels distant, the Wildcats will certainly feel the absence of Kouser from their pitching staff.
The New Jersey right-hander recorded 128 innings over his freshman and sophomore seasons with Northwestern baseball, making 30 apperances.
In that time on the bump, Kouser struck out 77 with a 6.26 career ERA, with a 5.02 average in 2026, helping bring down his career marks after a 7.59 in 2025.
His most memorable appearances of 2026 came via a five-inning, five-strikeout performance against a ranked University of Oregon team and a four-inning shutout against the University of Southern California. His final outing for the Cats came against Rutgers University on May 15, tossing five innings and earning the win.
At 6'6", 230-pounds, Kouser sports a four-pitch mix. A fastball in the low 90s to go with a changeup/slider/cutter combo that hangs around the 80s.
Kouser's 5.02 ERA was the lowest out of qualified arms on the 2026 staff, with only two other Cat arms in the fives: Drew Dickson and James Whitaker.
Dickson will likely also be gone from the program after completing his senior season.
Fellow sophomore Jack Grunkemeyer, who only appeared in two games this past spring due to apparent injury, is also joining Kouser in the transfer portal.
These two Class of 2028 hurlers combined for over 100 innings for the purple and white in their 2025 freshman season. Now, they are leaving town.
It is a quick reminder on how fast things can change in the modern age of college sports, but also how the Wildcats now have to look toward the future for pitching staff stability.
The bright spots? Names like the aforementioned James Whitaker.
Whitaker shined as a first-year arm out of Las Vegas, Nevada, tossing 32 innings with a 5.34 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP, a total lower than Kouser's 1.61.
While talent may remain, the Northwestern staff will also need to start their search for their next arms, as pitching always comes at a premium.
