There’s nothing wrong with college baseball teams who build there rosters from the transfer portal and NIL $
But you better be ready to fight in the postseason when a team full of players who share meal swipes, tarp their own field, and love each other come to town
Thankful for my time at Purdue but I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal
2 years of eligibility 6’0 200 LHP 3.1 gpa
FB 89-93 t95
CB 76-80
CH 80-83
42.1 IP
12 App/12 GS
53 SO
11.3 k/9
5.95 Era
245 BAA
Trackman data available
Ten games into my senior year at Mississippi State — about a month into the season — and I still hadn’t pitched. The previous year, I logged only 4 innings. I spent the entire fall and most of the spring preseason dealing with an injury, and quiet frankly walking on thin ice on even staying on the team, if you’re not able to be productive in any way you’re gone, that’s how the SEC works, & I knew everything would have to go perfectly for me to even have a shot.
This is something young players at any level should pay attention to: what to do when you’re not playing much — and how to handle it.
During that time, I worked relentlessly. Every day, I prepared like my opportunity was coming tomorrow. I knew that when my name was called, I needed to be ready — not just ready to pitch, but ready to prove I belonged in the SEC.
Then it happened. We were up 19–2 at Tulane in the 9th inning. They told me to get hot. I treated it like Game 7 of the World Series. I went out there, went 3 up, 3 down, 3 strikeouts. My stuff was sharp.
After the game, Coach made a comment in the team meeting about how locked in I looked. He noticed. And that was all I needed.
Fast forward 24 hours — we’re in a 4–4 game in the 7th, bases loaded, two outs. He puts me in. Surprised? Maybe others were. I wasn’t. I had been preparing for this moment for two years.
I got to a 1-2 count and I got a flyout to right. From that point on, I went on to lead the team in ERA and appearances out of the bullpen. It became the best season of my career.
The takeaway: always be ready. You don’t know when your shot will come. But when it does, you can’t afford to be surprised. You’ve got to be prepared — mentally, physically, emotionally — like it’s the opportunity you’ve been waiting your whole life for.
If I hadn’t been locked in during that 19–2 game and shown Coach what it meant to me, I may have never gotten another chance.
Make the most of yours. If you’re not there yet, don’t give up. Keep showing up. Stay ready. Your moment’s coming. I’ll attach a few clips of the game that changed my career.
Meet Jed Oliver, the #Tigers fan from London traveling 3,500 miles to Comerica Park for the first time — fulfilling a lifelong dream.
His journey began with the 2006 World Series.
On @TigersJUK: https://t.co/UMSz8FYxVk
Flashes get 2 more in the top of the sixth on a pair of bases loaded walks and Brody Krzysiak sits the Eagles down in order in the bottom half!
#BiteDown
Ball walks it off!
Opened the season at Sunny T with a W 😎
We will be back here on March 25 against Grace Christian - first pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
#FireUpChips🔥⬆️⚾️
13 more days to make count before our Opening Day doubleheader!
Star alum @BrendanBeaver2 tied for first in the country in wins with 11 on 2022’s World Series team. “Big Game Beav” threw 68 innings that season striking out 70, with an ERA of 3.04 and a WHIP 1.18 to earn First Team All-American honors.
Brendan then moved on to pitch at @ashland_base and @MoStateBSB. #Legacy
Brendan Beaver (@ashland_base) quick tempo w/ 4 pitches. 4S topped 89-90 range; settle hi-80s. Going to low/mid-80s CUT. Can really spin mid-70s SL & turn over a heavy pronated 71-73 CH. Array of looks; competes w/ deception. Sr. ‘25 elig