Alabama
Alabama baseball transfer portal tracker: who’s in, who’s out for the Crimson Tide
Alabama baseball’s season ended last week with two losses at the Tallahassee Regional. With the first season of the Rob Vaughn era completed, the Tide turns its attention to the offseason, where the transfer portal is set to impact the roster once again.
Last offseason, Alabama was impacted by portal losses more significantly due to a coaching change. However, Vaughn was able to bring in some impact transfers as well, including Ian Petrutz (Maryland), T.J. McCants (Ole Miss), Gage Miller (Bishop State Community College) and Greg Farone (Louisville).
According to D1Baseball’s transfer portal tracker, Alabama has already seen some members of the 2024 team enter the portal. Follow along here for updates on Alabama baseball’s transfers in and out:
More: What’s next for Alabama baseball? A look at the Crimson Tide’s roster for 2025 after NCAA Tournament exit
More: Alabama baseball shut out by Stetson in elimination game, ending Rob Vaughn’s first season
Nick Saban Commemorative Book: Relive Nick Saban’s epic Alabama football coaching career with our special book!
According to D1 Baseball’s transfer portal tracker
Alton Davis II
One of the biggest names out of the Alabama bullpen entered the portal on June 6. Alton Davis II, a preseason All-SEC selection as a relief pitcher, has entered his name in the portal, according to a report by Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball.
Davis was named freshman all-SEC in 2023 and led the SEC with six saves in conference play. His play noticeably declined in 2024, especially near the end of the season, but he led Alabama’s relievers in strikeouts. Davis still has massive upside and becomes one of the top arms available in the portal.
Luke Williams
Redshirt freshman Luke Williams entered the portal June 5. Williams did not see any playing time during his two seasons at Alabama. Williams was named the Tuscaloosa News high school player of the year in 2022 after his senior season at Hillcrest.
Camden Hayslip
Outfielder Camden Hayslip entered the portal June 4. He saw time in seven games in 2024 and made two starts as a designated hitter. Hayslip played more as a freshman in 2022 and a sophomore in 2023, hitting a home run in both seasons, but was never able to carve out a consistent starting role.
Jackson Baker
Freshman pitcher Jackson Baker entered the portal on June 4, he announced on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Baker threw one scoreless, hitless inning against Valparaiso in his freshman year.
Evan Haeger
Freshman outfielder Evan Haeger entered the portal on June 3, he announced on X. He did not see playing time during his freshman season.
Sammy Leis
Sammy Leis, a redshirt freshman catcher, entered the portal on June 3. He did not see game action in his two seasons at Alabama.
Joey Rubin
Infielder Joey Rubin entered the portal on May 25, before Alabama’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Rubin transferred from Rollins College last offseason but did not see playing time during his first season at Alabama.
Alabama baseball additions from the transfer portal
Garrett Staton (Samford)
Samford third baseman Garrett Staton, a second-team all-Southern Conference selection, announced via X on June 5 that he will transfer to Alabama.
Staton hit 19 home runs with 69 RBIs for Samford in 2024. Alabama saw Staton twice this season as the Tide played a home-and-home with the Bulldogs. Staton impressed in those two matchups, hitting 3-for-10 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and scoring three runs.
Staton could be a replacement for Gage Miller, who seems likely to turn pro after a strong season.
Alabama
University of Alabama police officer's family leans on law enforcement community after his death
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – Pauline Love, the new head coach of the Alabama women’s basketball team, says her late college coach, Joye Lee-McNelis, is the reason she got into coaching.
Love played for Lee-McNelis at Southern Miss, describing her as a second mother. Lee-McNelis passed away last summer after a long battle with breast cancer.
A relationship that changed her path
Love said she once told Lee-McNelis she would never go into coaching, a conversation the two laughed about often.
“I used to tell her all the time, I would never do this. I would never put up with somebody like me or I would never work for somebody like her. I was like coach, you’re crazy. We used to laugh about it all the time and she was like you’ll see one day, you’ll see,” Love said.
Love had planned to work in the tech industry. Instead, she has spent 15 years in coaching.
“She pretty much paved the way for me. There’s no way I’d be sitting here if it wasn’t for her,” Love said.
High expectations at Alabama
Love returns to Tuscaloosa after previously serving as an assistant at Alabama. She was introduced as head coach in April, and was brought to tears when she mentioned Lee-McNelis during that introduction.
Her goals for the program are clear.
“I’m going to have a passion about it. I want to bring a Final Four to the University of Alabama and make Tuscaloosa proud,” Love said.
This year’s roster includes Spring Garden’s Ace Austin, back for her sophomore season.
Love said she wants her players to know that difficult times are part of the process.
“I can say for them, I’ve been there. I’ve done it. Just learn how to figure out and fight through hard things. You gotta do something hard and fight through it and I promise you it’s rewarding at the end of it,” Love said.
Love said she also wants to be a source of support for her players off the court, the same way Lee-McNelis was for her.
“I know we always get caught up in the money part of it, but I got a group of girls that doesn’t care about that. They want to care about making the fans happy and giving them something good to watch,” Love said.
Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.
Copyright 2026 WBRC. All rights reserved.
Alabama football fans are invited to a preseason pep rally Aug. 4 at the Tuscaloosa River Market.
The pep rally is part of the annual fall kickoff event hosted by the Tuscaloosa County chapter of the University of Alabama National Alumni Association.
The family friendly event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the River Market, 1900 Jack Warner Parkway. Tickets, which include a barbecue dinner, cost $30 for adults and $15 for children ages 8 to 12. Children 7 years old and younger will be admitted for free.
The pep rally will feature live entertainment, a silent auction and a range of family-friendly activities. There will also be a cash bar with wine and beer.
Tickets can be purchased on the chapter’s website, tuscaloosacountyuaalumni.com. Membership in the local alumni chapter is not required for attendance.
University of Alabama President Peter Mohler and UA baseball coach Rob Vaughn will be part of the festivities.
Mohler began his duties as UA president on July 21, 2025.
Before being named UA president, Mohler spent nearly 15 years at Ohio State University, where he held senior leadership roles overseeing research, innovation and economic development. He also served as OSU’s acting president, providing leadership during a pivotal period for one of the nation’s largest public universities.
Mohler earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Wake Forest University and a PhD in cell and molecular physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Duke University Medical Center before joining the faculty at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Vaughn has been UA’s head baseball coach for three years, leading the Crimson Tide to the College Baseball World Series in 2026.
The Humble, Texas, native served as head baseball coach at Maryland for five seasons before coming to Tuscaloosa.
Vaughn played collegiate baseball at Kansas State, where his position was catcher.
Alabama begins the 2026 football season on Sept. 5 with a home game against the East Carolina Pirates. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Other Alabama home games include Florida State on Sept. 19, South Carolina on Sept. 26, Georgia on Oct. 10, Texas A&M on Oct. 24, Chattanooga on Nov. 21 and Auburn on Nov. 28.
Reach Ken Roberts at ken.roberts@tuscaloosanews.com. To support his work, please subscribe to The Tuscaloosa News.
-
Los Angeles, Ca45 minutes agoO.C. police prep for beach, theme park ‘takeovers’ promoted on social media
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoDetroit city leaders to DHS: Stop ICE pursuits which endanger the community
-
San Francisco, CA1 hour agoSF Supervisor Jackie Fielder hosts listening session after medical leave
-
Dallas, TX1 hour agoThe Stewpot artists find healing, purpose and income through art in Dallas
-
Miami, FL1 hour agoCan Jason Marshall push for a starting spot – The Splash Zone 7/10/26
-
Boston, MA1 hour agoPolice investigating shooting in Downtown Crossing – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDenver mayor announces new $100 million plan to bring in 10,000 jobs
-
San Diego, CA2 hours agoWEBTOON Brings Top Creators for San Diego Comic-Con Panels
