Tracking OSU baseball’s roster movement

After another run to the NCAA Regional Tournament, OSU is retooling its roster to make another run to the postseason in 2024.

The 2023 Cowboys baseball team finished 41-20 with a postseason exit in the Stillwater Regional for the second consecutive year. Since, there’s been lots of movement on the roster. Here’s a look at who the Cowboys have lost and gained this summer.

Transferred in

Sam Garcia, LHP, High Point

Garcia made eight starts in 18 appearances in 2023 and was second on the team in strikeouts with 49. He pitched 44 innings and posted a 7.57 ERA on the year. As a sophomore in 2022, Garcia made eight starts in 16 appearances and joined the weekend rotation by late March. Across 60 1/3 innings, he led the team with a 1.94 ERA, which ranked second in the Big South Conference and earned him first-team conference accolades. Garcia threw 58 strikeouts against only 13 walks, which was the lowest in the conference, and tied an HPU record with 13 strikeouts in a game.

Robert Cranz, RHP, Wichita State

Wichita State righty

Robert Cranz, a junior with two seasons of eligibility remaining. He became a reliable bullpen option for the Shockers this season, making 19 appearances with a 3.98 ERA. He threw 53 strikeouts, fourthbest on the team, in just 31 2/3 innings.

Cranz pitched against the Cowboys three times while at Wichita State, including twice in 2023. In those two appearances, Cranz allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Bryson Hughes, RHP, McNeese State

Bryson Hudgens, a righthanded pitcher from McNeese State. Hudgens underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and missed the remainder of that season and didn’t make his first appearance until April 2023. He pitched 16 innings in five games with a 2.81 ERA.

Hudgens had a career 3.21 ERA with 14 starts, 19 appearances and 67 1/3 innings pitched in three seasons with McNeese State.

Lane Forsythe, IF, Mississippi State

This transfer gives OSU some national championshiplevel experience. Forsythe spent the last three seasons with the Bulldogs, where he has been the starting shortstop, including their 2021 national championship season. That year, he was also named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team. He only batted

.248 with two home runs and 14 RBI this season, but his defense is what stands out. That could be helpful for the Cowboys, who lost shortstop Marcus Brown and second baseman Roc Riggio to the MLB Draft. Aaron Weber, RHP, Oklahoma Here’s another interBedlam pitching transfer. Kale Davis left OSU for OU after last season, and Ben Abram said goodbye to the Sooners and joined the Cowboys. This time, it’s Weber, a righty from Edmond. Weber a year

Departures

at Cowley College before transferring to OU last season, where he pitched 18 innings in 19 appearances and showed moments of promise. He gave up 22 strikeouts and 13 walks, finishing with a 9.50 ERA, but he recorded a team-high seven saves. Ethan Bosacker, RHP, Xavier Bosacker was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 13th round of the MLB Draft, so the Cowboys are likely to miss out on a potential starting pitcher. Bosacker is a big pick-up

Juaron Watts-Brown, RHP: Third Round, Toronto Blue Jays

Nolan McLean, OF/RHP: Third Round, New York Mets

Roc Riggio, 2B: Fourth Round, New York Yankees

Marcus Brown, SS: Fifth Round, Washington Nationals

Brian Hendry, RHP: 10th Round New York Yankees

Chase Adkison, C: UDFA, St. Louis Cardinals

Bayden Root, RHP: UDFA, Milwaukee Brewers

David Mendham, 1B: Exhausted eligibility

Ben Abram, RHP: Exhausted eligibility for the Cowboys, who could become an ace right away. The 6-2, 210-pound righty was the Friday starter for the Musketeers this season, and he went 8-3 on the year. He pitched two complete games this season, including a 104-pitch shutout against Eastern Illinois in the NCAA Regional Tournament. Bosacker started all 16 games he appeared in and threw 101 strikeouts across 98 innings, compared to just 29 walks. After missing the 2022 season with an injury, he posted a 3.49 ERA this year. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Transferred out

Michael Benzor, LHP

Luke Fernandez, RHP

Brant Hogue, LHP

Kade Shatwell, RHP

Manning West, RHP

Brennan Holt, IF/OF