How the transfer portal helped lead TCU back to the College World Series
The transfer portal has revolutionized college sports and become indispensable to teams that hope to compete for national titles.
Despite its benefits, working the transfer portal can be both constant and time consuming, especially for teams on deep postseason runs like the TCU baseball program. .
“The portal doesn’t wait, they don’t care if you’re in Omaha or not,” said Horned Frogs coach Kirk Saarloos said as his team prepared for the College World Series. “I’ve probably spent more time with the portal than anything else over the last three days.”
However, Saarloos isn’t complaining as the time and effort invested into the portal have clearly paid dividends for TCU.
“Our right-fielder (Austin Davis), second-baseman (Tre Richardson) both transfer portal guys, (pitcher) Sam Stoutenborough whose been huge for us . . . there’s plenty of guys that have had huge roles on our team, again, we’re not here if not for the transfer portal guys we’ve gotten,” said Saarloos.
Tre Richardson, a transfer from Baylor, and has played a monumental role in TCU’s postseason run. In the NCAA Fayetteville Regional Richardson earned MVP honors after batting .600 with four home runs and 14 RBIs over three games.
Richardson has been lauded by his teammates for what he brings to the team.
”Super grateful to be Tre’s teammate, Tre’s one of those guys you love to be around in the locker room and you love to be around on the field and he brings a lot of energy for us,” said TCU third baseman Brayden Taylor, “I’m super happy for him and excited to see what he’s gonna do in Omaha.”
Richardson was also the catalyst behind TCU’s five-run fourth inning in the deciding Super Regional win over Indiana State.
McLennan College transfer Cole Fontanelle had his moment in TCU’s Super Regional sweep. Fontanelle went 5-for-7 with two home runs and three RBIs over two games while leading TCU in hits, RBIs and runs. He also homered and drove in three runs in the CWS’ opening loss to Oral Roberts.
Stoutenborough was the winning pitcher in the game that sent TCU to the College World Series then pitched the Horned Frogs past Virginia on Sunday.
Saarloos praised the transfers for how they meshed with TCU’s culture.
“They’ve been not only just great players, they’ve fit into what we’re doing program-wise and what we’re about, so that’s always gonna be a big piece is to get great kids and great players outta the portal,” said Saarloos, “
Outfielder Elijah Nunez, who’s played his entire collegiate career with the Horned Frogs, spoke about what draws transfers to TCU.
“The Fort Worth community as a whole just how supportive and how encouraging they are with their student atmosphere and the atmosphere of TCU is amazing, we’re an everything school,” said Nunez.
This story was originally published June 16, 2023 at 12:00 AM.
