Throughout coach Mike Gambino’s first two offseasons at the helm, he’s utilized the transfer portal to shape Penn State for future years.
Gambino has done that once again, bringing in six transfers, some of which come from major baseball programs. Despite returning a strong core, Gambino may continue bringing transfers to Happy Valley, as the transfer portal is still open.
The Nittany Lions’ skipper has a tendency to bring talent back to their home state, and he continued that trend with this year’s portal class.
Kyle Lazer, pitcher, West Chester
Kyle Lazer is the most recent to announce his transfer to Penn State. The former West Chester right-handed pitcher will join the Nittany Lions for his redshirt senior year, making the jump from Division II to Division I.
This transition is not abnormal, especially for a Penn State pitcher, as right-handed pitcher Frankie Sanchez made the jump to the highest level from Southern New Hampshire.
Lazer had the best season of his career in 2025, holding an 8-3 record across 71 innings of work, striking out 75 batters.
The Havertown, Pennsylvania, native has experience with deep outings, including an eight-inning start against Millersville.
The competition will certainly be the biggest transition, but with a history of long and successful starts, Lazer could see immediate action as a starter, similar to Sanchez’s quick transition.
A few players huddle with the coach during a break in the Penn State baseball game against Delaware at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday, April, 15, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The Hens beat the Nittany Lions 13-3.
Megan Miller
Ben Hudson, pitcher, West Virginia
Ben Hudson will join Penn State after just one season in Morgantown. The Medford, New Jersey, native appeared in 18 games, throwing 27.1 innings during his inaugural collegiate season.
Hudson held a 3.95 ERA while striking out 30 batters on a West Virginia team that made it to the NCAA Super Regionals.
The right-handed pitcher will likely be a key piece out of the bullpen, with multiple Penn State relievers graduating.
Michael Anderson, infielder, Arkansas
A theme in Penn State’s recent transfers is getting players from powerhouse teams. Last year, Gambino made a big splash in bringing center fielder Paxton Kling back to his home state.
This season, Michael Anderson is one of the players that will wear the blue and white next year after playing on Arkansas, a strong team.
Anderson didn’t see much time for the Razorbacks, but carried a .574 slugging percentage in his second season at Rhode Island.
The Havertown, Pennsylvania, native tallied double-digit home runs in both seasons at Rhode Island before playing his lone season at Arkansas.
Anderson projects to compete for the open first base position after Cole Wagner’s only season at Penn State.
Kyle Emmons, pitcher, Towson
Kyle Emmons is another bullpen piece for Gambino’s squad. The Pasadena, Maryland, native will make the transition to a Power 5 conference after his first two seasons at Towson.
Throughout his first two years in college, Emmons made a total of 32 appearances without any starts and nearly doubled his innings pitched in his second season.
In addition, the right-handed pitcher dropped his ERA to 3.67 in his second season while adding three saves, showcasing the ability to be a high-leverage bullpen arm.
Emmons stands at 6-foot-4, which will bring another tall pitcher to the team. The height will make pitches look faster, with the ability to grow into a dominant reliever under pitching coach Will Jaus.
Head coach Mike Gambino walks onto the field during the Penn State baseball game against Michigan State at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Sunday, March 23, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The Spartans defeated the Nittany Lions 10-5.
Lexie Linderman
Jayden Davis, infielder, Vanderbilt
The biggest name out of the incoming transfer class is Jayden Davis. The former Vanderbilt second baseman will join Penn State for his senior season after two seasons with the Commodores and one season with Stanford his freshman year.
Davis was the primary second baseman in his first year as a Commodore, and he will be in line to start at second base with the position open.
In his first season, Davis held a .315 batting average with a .394 on-base percentage, showcasing his ability to reach base to allow the power hitters to bring him home.
“(Davis) had a tremendous impact on our team (in 2024),” Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said. “He has a uniqueness in his ability to play the game with simplicity, enjoyment and for the love of competition.”
The Cookeville, Tennessee, native could be a bat in the top of the lineup, with multiple power hitters returning to Penn State next season.
Spencer Barnett, infielder, West Virginia
Spencer Barnett was the first of the group to announce his commitment to Penn State. The Pittsburgh native played in a majority of the Mountaineers’ games throughout his first two years.
In his sophomore campaign, Barnett batted .278 with a .336 on-base percentage while playing for a consistently ranked team.
Barnett went 2-for-4 with two RBI against Penn State in West Virginia’s lone game against his future team, giving a glimpse of what could come for Barnett at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
The infielder will be an additional depth piece in the infield, with the option to play matchups with Barnett’s left-handed bat. His arrival could be especially important with some hitters’ return to Penn State up in the air with the 2025 MLB Draft approaching.
Overall, the class includes a lot of high-upside players with most of the incoming transfers coming from winning programs.
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Penn State has found another pitcher via the portal.
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