Early in the season, the Virginia Tech baseball team relied on its pitching, but as the season progressed and they began their decline from an NCAA Tournament team to one that would miss the field again, things started going south on the mound. Whether it was a case of arms getting tired or whatever else, pitching became and issue for the Hokies down the stretch in April and May.
One of those arms who was good was freshman southpaw Jake Marciano. He became an arm that head coach John Szefc could rely on, and when all was said and done, he was one of their better pitchers with Friday night starter Brent Renfrow. However, Marciano hit the portal following the season, and the New Jersey native committed to an SEC school for the 2026 season.
Former Virginia Tech left-handed pitcher Jake Marciano commits to Auburn in the SEC
Once Marciano hit the portal, you knew it wouldn't take much time for him to find a new home. He committed to Auburn in the SEC as the Tigers were hosting Coastal Carolina this weekend in the Super Regionals, which they lost in a sweep. Marciano, who picked Virginia Tech over SEC programs Tennessee and Mississippi out of high school, is a big loss for Tech.
In his one season in Blacksburg, Marciano went 4-2 in 15 appearances in 60.2 innings with a 6.08 ERA and a.146 WHIP. He struck out 71 batters and walked just 18. Sure, the ERA was high, but it is something that happens more often than not with younger pitchers, and there is no doubt that he would have been a reliable weekend starter next spring for Szefc. Instead, his departure means more work needs to be done on the mound for the Hokies, and the best way is through the transfer portal.