What might have been: How UVA Baseball transfers are doing at their new schools

A lot of UVA Baseball talent hit the transfer portal when Brian O’Connor embarked for Mississippi State last June.

How is everybody doing in their new situations, you ask.

Not everybody is Tomas Valincius, is the answer.

Other than losing a stud lefty #1 starter, I think we did OK.

What we lost

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• Henry Ford (Tennessee, 1B/OF/DH): Ford has picked up where he left off – 10 HRs, 30 RBIs, .328 BA/1.024 OPS.
• Aiden Teel (Mississippi State, CF): Teel has 3 HRs, 17 RBIs, with a .316 BA/.918 OPS. The guy who replaced him is AJ Gracia: 9 HRs, 28 RBIs, .352 BA/1.167 OPS.
• James Nunnaleee (Mississippi State, RF): Nunnallee has one homer, five RBIs, and is hitting .255 BA/.790 OPS.
• Chone James (Mississippi State, DH): James got 77 plate appearances and 16 games as a utility guy for O’Connor at UVA in 2025. He’s DH’ing in 2026: one homer, 12 RBIs, .394 BA/1.035 OPS in 38 PAs.
• Tomas Valincius (Mississippi State, LHP): Valincius is 6-0, 0.91 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, with 56 Ks/11 BBs in 39.2 IP.
• Evan Blanco (Tennessee, LHP): UVA’s #1 starter on the 2024 College World Series team, Blanco is 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.19 WHIP.
• Bryson Moore (Florida State, RHP): We’ll see more this weekend, with him starting Game 3 for FSU on Saturday. Moore in 2026: 4-1, 5.12 ERA, 1.45 WHIP

Analysis

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• The guy who replaced Ford as the guy in the 1B/OF/DH slot is Sam Harris: 10 HRs, 37 RBIs, .370 BA/1.209 OPS. I’ll take Harris.
• AJ Gracia (9 HRs, 28 RBIs, .352 BA/1.167 OPS) is an obvious upgrade over Teel in center.
• Chris Pollard is using a platoon in right – Zack Jackson (4 HRs, 16 RBIs, .210 BA/.791 OPS) and Antonio Perrotta (1 HR, 14 RBIs, .351 BA/1.014 OPS). They’re producing more than Nunnallee.
• There is no comp on the UVA pitching staff for Valincius, and Blanco’s numbers aren’t lights out, but he’s an innings-eater, at least.