The DII Report: Impact transfers to watch in the 2022 DII baseball season
Opening day for DII baseball was Feb. 1. As the rest of the nation prepares to open its season, which transfers could make an instant impact in 2022?
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THE DII REPORT
The 2022 DII baseball season opened on Feb. 1. As you know, with the wintery weather in the Northeast and Midwest, DII baseball is a staggered start. While we await the entirety of conferences and teams to get underway, let’s look at some impact transfers for the 2022 season.
Fall reports: SAC | PSAC | RMAC | PBC | SSC | LSC | NSIC | GSC | MIAA | Contenders Part I | Contenders Part II
Austin Edwards, RHP, Lenoir-Rhyne
Edwards is a graduate transfer from Western Illinois. The 2021 numbers don’t jump off the page, but he was a preseason pitcher to watch in the Summit League heading into the season. He reaches the mid-90s with little effort and head coach Chris Ramirez feels he had a strong fall acclimating to the program.
Haden Erbe, RHP, Tampa
Tampa returns a wealth of starting pitching depth so it will be intriguing to see where Erbe fits into the plans. He was dominant at the Juco level in 2019 before heading to DI New Orleans where he split time in the rotation and bullpen. He could serve that same swingman role for head coach Joe Urso who thinks he can compete for the weekend rotation.
Brandon Ernst, 1B/DH, Bloomsburg
The Huskies are already a solid team with plenty of returners from the 2021 PSAC championship squad. Ernst is a power bat that hit .488 with 16 doubles and eight home runs for Lackawanna College last year. A Juco All-American, he also only struck out 16 times in 127 at-bats, so he is more than just a big bat, but selective as well.
Quinn Gudaitis, RHP, Illinois Springfield
Gudaitis is massive, listed at 6-foot-7 and 220 pounds, so there is no concern about his pitcher’s frame. He closed out his career at DIII Illinois Wesleyan with a strong 2021 posting a 1.63 ERA and striking out 41 in 27.2 innings pitched. He touches 97 on his fastball with a mid-80s slider. With that frame and velocity, you can be sure he’ll have some scout’s eyes on him.
J.R. Heavilin, UTIL, Wheeling
Heavilin transfers from MEC-rival Charleston (WV) and head coach Ryan Lewicki expects him to DH, catch and play third while hitting in the cleanup spot. He opened last season with an 11-game hitting streak, so expect him to make an impact for the Cardinals.
Duncan Hunter, OF, Florida Southern
Hunter is intriguing. He led Jacksonville in doubles last season while hitting two home runs, so he clearly has pop. Last year, the Dolphins entered the ASUN tournament 11-31, and they went on a tear to win the tournament and advance to the NCAA field of 64. Hunter had six hits, including two homers in the six games of the tournament earning ASUN All-Tournament honors. Also watch his new teammate Jared DeSantolo, a third-base transfer from Florida Atlantic that head coach Lance Niekro mentioned this fall.
Trent Jeffcoat, IF, West Florida
Jeffcoat comes from Tallahassee CC and is a game-changer on the base paths with 6.5-60 speed. He also hit .368 last season, getting on base at a .444 lick. His father is head coach Mike Jeffcoat, so there is extra intrigue to this transfer, but the younger Jeffcoat is expected to make an immediate impact.
Carson Ogilvie, SS, Lubbock Christian
It looks like the Hill College transfer is going to be the Chaps opening day starter at shortstop. Last season, he crushed the baseball hitting .396 with 14 home runs and 10 doubles. He is also very quick, swiping 25 stolen bases and has a solid approach at the plate, walking 44 times and striking out 35.
Dawson Painter, UTIL, Catawba
Painter is a two-way athlete that head coach Jim Gantt expects to contribute in the outfield and out of the bullpen. Last year, Painter only made one appearance on the mound for the Louisburg Hurricanes, striking out six in 6.0 innings, but he was solid at the plate, slashing .324/.523/.451 with six home runs in 111 at-bats.
Duke Pahukoa, 3B, Northeast Nazarene
Pahukoa comes from UNLV and walks into an ideal situation with the Nighthawks. He should be in the middle of the lineup and start at third base for a program that made it all the way to Cary, N.C. in 2021. Head coach Joe Schaefer thinks Pahukoa can be an all-GNAC player by season’s end with his raw power.
Isaac Quinones, C, Lee
Quinones was a freshman All-American for Miami (FL) in 2018 when he hit .291 and played strong behind the plate, committing just one error and throwing 62% of attempted base thieves. The arrival of Adrian Del Castillo, simply one of the best college baseball players in the ACC, relegated Quinones to backup duties and now he is onto the Flames. His experience could prove huge.
Joshua Roberge, RHP, Southern New Hampshire
The Penmen may be the team to beat in the East and Roberge can help. He went 6-1 for Wheaton last season with a 1.82 ERA and a 34-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He throws in the low-90s and controls the strike zone very well.
Michael Ward, 1B, Lindenwood
Ward is a seasoned-DII veteran, playing for Missouri S&T last season. He had a career year, hitting .379 with 12 home runs and 13 doubles. He strikes out a bit, but also has a solid eye, walking five more times than he struck out. He should be an immediate impact to the Lions’ lineup.
Others to watch:
Adam Frank, IF/OF, Nova Southeastern — Frank is a well-traveled college bat that has played at FDU, Hillsborough CC and most recently Miami (FL).
Mitchell Lee, RHP, UT Tyler — Lee got banged up early last season but was strong for DI Lamar down the stretch.
Casey O’Laughlin, OF, Azusa Pacific — He transfers from Northwestern where he started 76 of the 101 games he played.
Gabe Rivera, OF, Nova Southeastern — Rivera was Frank’s teammate at Miami last season. He showed the ability to hit with some pop, belting five home runs in 77 at-bats.