OSU adds more pitching through transfer portal

Braden Bush Sports Editor

Since the addition of right-handed pitcher Bryson Hudgens from McNeese State two weeks ago, the OSU baseball staff has picked up two more pitching transfers.

On Friday, the Cowboys added a commitment in the transfer portal from Samuel Garcia, a left-handed pitcher from High Point. Garcia will be a senior with one season of eligibility remaining.

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.

On June 14, OSU received the commitment of 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.

sports.ed@ocolly.com