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Auburn baseball: Five players join roster through transfer portal
Auburn baseball: Five players join roster through transfer portal Auburn's coaching staff worked double-duty this weekend to help build its 2026 roster.
Auburn baseball experienced a historical weekend by hosting its first-ever NCAA Super Regional, and the Tigers' coaching staff took full advantage by using it as an edge to fuel its transfer portal recruiting efforts.
While Auburn fans were cheering on the Tigers at Plainsman Park, several transfer portal targets were fielding recruiting pitches behind the scenes. The 2026 roster is now taking shape as five experienced transfers are set to join the team in their pursuit of another College World Series appearance.
Several key names will need to be replaced next season as Cooper McMurray, Carson Myers, Deric Fabian, and Sam Dutton are out of eligibility, and Ike Irish is receiving first-round chatter ahead of next month's MLB draft. Players such as Bub Terrell, Chris Rembert, Eric Snow, Chase Fralick, and Cade Belyeu are set to return next season, and the addition of these transfers will fit in nicely as Butch Thompson aims to fill the voids with the best talent available.
Here is a look at the haul Auburn baseball secured over the weekend from the transfer portal.
Jake Marciano
Auburn added a left-handed pitcher in Jake Marciano, a rising sophomore, over the weekend. Marciano was Virginia Tech's primary Saturday starter this season, and finished with a 4-2 record with a 6.08 ERA and 71 strikeouts. He struck out at least two batters in all but one of his 14 starts this season, and struck out a personal-best nine batters in the Hokies 6-1 win over Notre Dame on April 5, where he allowed one earned run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
2025 stats (Virginia Tech): 4-2, 6.08 ERA, 15 appearances (14 starts), 60 2/3 innings pitched, 70 hits, 42 runs allowed (41 earned), 71 strikeouts, 18 walks
Ryne Farber
Auburn added an infield piece in Ryan Farber, a shortstop from Texas State. The switch hitter has recorded at least two home runs, 48 hits, and 25 RBI over the last two seasons. He struck out 36 times last season, up from the nine he recorded as a freshman in 2024, but his stolen base production has increased from eight in 2024 to 17 in 2025. In the field, he fielded at a .962 clip in 2025 while recording 75 putouts and just eight errors.
2025 stats (Texas State): .267 average, 59 hits, 4 home runs, 33 RBI, 30 walks, 36 strikeouts, 17 stolen bases
Drew Whalen
Whalen, a right-handed pitcher from Western Kentucky, earned a spot on the Conference-USA All-Freshman team in 2024, and followed suit as a sophomore by building a 9-3 record in 16 starts, where he struck out 90 batters and walked 31 over 81 2/3 innings. His season-best performance came against Sam Houston State, where he struck out 10 batters and allowed zero runs on three hits over 6 2/3 innings. He led the conference in wins (9), fifth in ERA (3.53), and third in strikeouts (90).
2025 stats (Western Kentucky): 9-3 record, 3.53 ERA, 16 appearances (16 starts), 81 2/3 innings, 90 strikeouts, 31 walks.
Todd Clay
There is no place like home. That is the case for Todd Clay, who returns to his hometown club after spending the 2025 season at UAB. Clay had a magical season at UAB, where he led the team in several categories inclduing hits (69), and slugging percentage (.539). The former Blazer infielder logged a .962 clip this season with only five errors and 31 putouts.
Clay, a graduate of Auburn High School, was a member of the Tigers' 2021 state championship squad and is a member of the All-American Athletic Conference 2nd team.
2025 stats (UAB): .361 average, 53 games played (53 starts), 69 hits, 7 home runs, 51 RBI, .539 slugging percentage, six stolen bases, .962 fielding
Garett Brewer
The third pitching commit of the weekend is a left-hander formerly of Michigan State, Garrett Brewer. The rising junior appeared in 17 games in relief for the Spartans this season, where he recorded a career-high in innings pitched (34 1/3), strikeouts (41), opponent batting average (.223), and ERA (3.47). In Michigan State's 11-10 win over Minnesota on May 17, Brewer logged a season-best seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
2025 stats (Michigan State): 2-2 record, 3.47 ERA, 17 appearances (0 starts), 1 save, 34 1/3 innings pitched, 41 strikeouts, 13 walks
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