Things are moving and moving fast when it comes to the Transfer Portal for the Virginia Tech baseball team and head coach John Szefc. After retaining most of the everyday roster that he could and some key players, there needed to be a focus on the bump in terms of the pitching staff.
That started earlier this month when the Hokies and Szefc picked up some commitments from arms through the portal. So far, Szefc has commitments from left-handed pitcher Chris Torres from USC Upstate, Nate Bennett from Niagara, Mike Staiano from Elon, and Aiden VanDeHatert from Dallas Baptist. You can add another name to the list, and it's a big one with Tennessee's Nic Abraham committed to the Hokies.
Virginia Tech lands second Tennessee transfer from the portal this month
First baseman Evan Hankins committed to Virginia Tech earlier this month, and another former Vols teammate is joining him as a pitcher. Aiden Abraham, a right-handed pitcher, is coming to Blacksburg.
Abraham made 16 appearances for Tennessee in 2026 in his sophomore season with a 4.15 ERA and a 2-0 record. In 34.2 innings, he had 20 strikeouts and a 1.13 WHIP. The California native played at Franklin High School and is 6-foot-5.
As a freshman in 2025 under former coach Tony Vitello, who left to go to the San Francisco Giants, Abraham made six appearances.
Virginia Tech's roster turnover on the pitching staff is something that needed to be done after the arms they lost to the portal and the MLB Draft. Pitching was a big part of the Hokies' turnaround that saw them make a run in the second half of the season to finish seventh in the ACC and then earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament before they were bounced in the Los Angeles Regional. If the staff can be rebuilt with the returning talent in the field, then another NCAA Tournament berth could be in the cards in 2027.
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