Transfer portal or 'speed dating'? How Alabama baseball flipped 2025 roster with 13 additions
Some of Alabama baseball's biggest contributors during the 2025 season were plucked straight from the transfer portal.
"The scary part of the transfer portal is you can crush your culture really quick if you start bringing the wrong people in," Crimson Tide coach Rob Vaughn told the Tuscaloosa News.
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Vaughn admits his recruiting process is "probably a little bit slower than most," but it's a decision made on good advice. Former St. John's manager Ed Blankmeyer once told Vaughn and his assistants:
"It's never the guy you don't get, it's the guy you get that you shouldn't have got."
REQUIRED READING: Rob Vaughn hitting milestones with Alabama baseball, but he almost didn't take the job
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Who's the best competitor? Which guys are tough, and know the difference between toughness and grit? Vaughn wants those guys.
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"The truest competitors for me are the ones that say, 'Hey, whatever I've got today is good enough to beat you. I don't have to have my A stuff. I'm good enough to beat you with my C stuff,' " Vaughn said.
Without that mentality, Vaughn says there's "no chance" to survive in the SEC.
Why Alabama baseball coach Rob Vaughn thinks the transfer portal is like 'speed dating'
Recruiting high schools is easier for Vaughn, who likes having the extra time to do the homework compared to shopping for transfers.
"The portal is like speed dating," Vaughn said. "There's times kids get in the portal. We talk to him. Two hours later, they've already got five offers and six visits lined up. We have to operate in it. If you don't, you're gonna get passed."
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Alabama was a hot date to swipe right on last portal season, as thirteen players on the current roster chose to leave programs around the country, whether little-known community colleges or iconic Ivy Leagues, and join the Crimson Tide.
Alabama's outfielder Richie Bonomolo Jr. (5) celebrates his two run homer in the top of the first inning against Florida. Florida came back from being down 5-0 to beat Alabama 7-6, Friday, May 15, 2025, at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2025
Which Alabama baseball transfers will make their first trips to the SEC Tournament?
Richie Bonomolo Jr., CF, junior
Previous school: Wabash Valley College
Before Alabama, Bonomolo helped Wabash Valley advance to its fourth consecutive JUCO World Series in 2023 and earned second-team All-American honors after a standout freshman season.
Bryce Fowler, RF, redshirt junior
Previous school: Pearl River C.C. (2024), Southern Miss (2022-23)
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In Poplarville, Miss. at Pearl River, Fowler got comfortable as a leadoff hitter and worked himself among the all-time leaders with 88 hits, the second most in a season in program history.
JT Blackwood, RHP, junior
Previous school: Wallace State
When Blackwood wasn't getting called out of the bullpen, he was often the midweek starter for the Crimson Tide, which went undefeated in the midweek during the 2025 regular season. In two seasons at Wallace State, he had the most innings pitched.
Carson Ozmer, RHP, graduate
Previous school: Penn
Ozmer leads all Division I closers with 16 saves, picking up two in one day in the series finale double-header against Georgia. All four years he was at Penn, Ozmer was a two-way starter and earned honorable mention All-Ivy League honors twice.
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Aeden Finateri, RHP, senior
Previous school: Georgia Tech
Finateri came to Tuscaloosa after three seasons at Georgia Tech, where he appeared in 58 games and made 23 starts, finishing his career with an 8-9 record with three saves and 172 strikeouts
Brennen Norton, INF, senior
Previous school: Jacksonville State
Norton left Jacksonville State on a high note. As a junior, he achieved a career-best .327 average with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs, seeing him add First Team All-Conference USA honors to his resume.
Garrett Staton, DH/2B, redshirt senior
Previous school: Samford
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Staton missed 21 games after suffering a broken finger on Feb. 18 when he was hit by a pitch, putting a delay on Crimson Tide fans seeing all the reasons why he earned preseason All-American honors. Since returning to the lineup on March 25, Staton has lived up to the hype, recording at least one RBI in 13 of his 25 starts.
Jason Torres, 3B, junior
Previous school: Miami
Named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, Torres impressed during his stint in South Florida. At Alabama, he's started all but one game on the hot corner and is one of the Crimson Tide's top home run contributors.
More first-timers that joined Alabama's 2025 roster from the portal
Beau Bryans, LHP, junior: previously Jones College
Packy Bradley-Cooney, RHP, senior: previously Campbell (2024), CCBC Essex (2022-23)
Danny Heintz, RHP, redshirt senior: previously Penn
Zach Kittrell, RHP, junior: previously Pensacola State College
Which new SEC transfer returns to Hoover, but with the Tide instead?
Brady Neal, C, junior
Previous school: LSU
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Sidelined by a back injury, Neal's career as LSU's starting catcher hit a roadbump in 2023. Now, he splits time behind the plate with fellow SEC transfer Will Plattner. The nine-hole hitter, Neal leads Alabama with an 18.4% walk rate.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Transfers can 'crush your culture:' Why Rob Vaughn got 13 for Alabama baseball
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