Seven Cavaliers enter transfer portal

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia lost its baseball coaching staff on Sunday. On Monday, several of the program’s players hit the transfer portal. A total of seven Cavaliers, many of them key players during the 2025 season, entered the portal as of 10 p.m.

Talented freshman pitcher Tomas Valincius entered the portal, along with sophomore first baseman Henry Ford, freshman utility man James Nunnalee and junior pitchers Evan Blanco and Bradley Hodges. Later on Monday, leadoff hitter Aiden Teel and power hitter Chris Arroyo hit the portal.

Those seven players decided to transfer less than 24 hours after Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor and most of his staff resigned and headed to Mississippi State (see related story).

Valincius, a left-hander with a 6-1 record, was a rising star with unlimited potential in the eyes of O’Connor, who predicted greatness for the rookie Cavalier. Valincius had a 4.59 ERA in 12 starts. He pitched 64.2 innings and walked only 17 compared to 70 strikeouts.

Ford has been a steady hitter in Virginia’s lineup for the past two seasons. The Charlottesville native, who played first base and right field, led UVA in runs scored this past season with 54, while hitting .362. In 50 starts, he posted 11 home runs and 46 RBI.

Blanco, a left-hander, was 3-5 in 8 starts this season with an ERA of 6.23. In 14 appearances, he pitched 39 innings, walked 9 and struck out 36.

Outfielder Teel scored 51 runs, blasted 59 hits for a .317 batting average, hit 7 home runs and had 40 RBI.

Arroyo, who transferred to UVA from Florida, was a left-handed pitcher with 4.97 ERA and as a utility player hit .291 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI.

Hodges, another southpaw, was 2-1 in 8 starts with an ERA of 4.88. He threw 27.2 innings, issued 17 walks and fanned 36.

Nunnalee, who played outfield, infield and catcher, carried a .401 batting average in 36 games. He had 42 hits and 26 RBI.