There was a lot of movement this off-season in the ACC with coaching changes across the league, which resulted in players jumping into the transfer portal for the upcoming season. The ACC looks stacked once again when it comes to talent, so let’s take a look at the Top 8 Transfers heading into the 2026 season.
#1 AJ Gracia | Virginia
AJ’s the No. 1 transfer for good reason. Last season at Duke he hit 10 doubles and 15 home runs, while driving in 54 runs, and also stealing 8 bases. This followed his insane freshman season where he broke the Blue Devil’s freshman home run record (14) and freshman RBI record (58). At the plate, he’s got a smooth lefty swing that produces a ton of pop and just looks like a guy who’s built to hit. He can drive the ball with authority to all fields, and defensively he brings a solid glove with great instincts. AJ followed Head Coach Chris Pollard to UVA for 2026 and as a former Hoo I’m excited to see them in action this spring.
#2 Jarren Advincula | Georgia Tech
Next up we have Jarren Advincula transferring to Georgia Tech from Cal. Last season he hit 17 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, and drove in 33 RBI for the Bears. Jarren led team in, bear with me for this one, hits (81), doubles (17), at bats (237), stolen bases (13), multiple-hit games (26), three-hit games (11) and total bases (120) in 2025. Jarren brings not only proven production but also a mature, competitive edge. He is another dependable bat added to an incredibly loaded Georgia Tech lineup for 2026.
#3 Alex Sosa | Miami
Alex Sosa is leaving NC State and heading south to Miami. Last season for the Wolfpack he hit 16 doubles, 10 home runs, and 40 RBI. He is the top ranked catcher this year in our transfer portal. Sosa’s the kind of catcher you love to have behind the dish, a smooth framer who makes pitchers feel real comfortable. He also has one of those lefty swings that makes for a really enjoyable cranking home run viewing experience and I would highly advise against parking in the right field parking garage at Miami until further notice.
#4 Andrew Wiggins | NC State
Andrew Wiggins is taking his talents to NC State for 2026. Last season he hit .256 with four home runs, seven doubles, 34 hits, 37 runs and 24 RBI at Indiana. Andrew is an athletic outfielder with the kind of raw power that jumps off the line up card, making him a huge addition for the Wolfpack. As one of the top-ranked transfers in this year’s class, he brings both upside and impact potential from day one. I’m really excited to see how he develops in Raleigh and NC State feels like the perfect place for him to take the next step in his game for 2026.
#5 Macon Winslow | UNC
Macon Winslow is another Duke player that hit the portal this off-season after Coach Pollard’s departure. However he’s not going far, just a quick 20 minute drive to Chapel Hill for 2026. Last season he hit .278 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, and 48 RBI as Duke’s primary catcher. Macon will be a great fit at UNC and he’s already proven himself as one of the best backstops in the conference. He does a phenomenal job quarterbacking the game behind the dish. With his mix of smooth defense and the way he leads, he is going to be a huge piece for the Tarheels in 2026.
#6 Cam Bagwell | Wake Forest
Cam Bagwell had an incredible freshman season at UNCW. The righty posted a 3.07 ERA and collected 62 strikeouts. He only walked 17 batters in 85 innings pitched. He tied the UNCW freshman record with nine wins and also tied freshman record with 15 starts. The CAA Rookie of the Year is making his way to Wake Forest who has been known for developing insane pitchers over the past few years. His fastball will sit in the low 90’s, he pairs that with a sharp, low-80s breaking ball, and he mixes in a changeup with solid arm side run. You put that all that together and it makes for a pretty nasty dude on the mound.
#7 Trey Beard | Florida State
Trey Beard is a very exciting pitcher transferring into the ACC this season. Last year at FAU he put up insane numbers, striking out 118 batters in 86 innings pitched only walking 32 batters. He became the first pitcher at FAU to eclipse 100 strikeouts in a single season since 2013. His fastball sits in the low-90s but plays up because of his steep release point, allowing it to appear even quicker as it gets on hitters faster than expected. Trey pairs that with a changeup with solid fade to it. Rounding out his arsenal is a big, 12-6 curveball, mix in the fact that it all looks like its coming out of an elevator shaft. Sounds like not a fun at bat to me. FSU has been known to put together an incredible weekend rotation and I’m excited to see what role Trey plays after being the Friday night guy for the Owls.
#8 Gabe Nard | Florida State
Another top pitcher heading to Florida State is Gabe Nard. Last season at Duke Gabe recorded a 4.62 ERA with a 6-2 record on the mound. He struck out 45 batters in 50.2 innings of work. He was consistently one of the top relievers in the conference in 2025. Nard relies mostly on a sinker-slider combination, and it’s tough to hit. His sinker will get up to 95, and he pairs that with a big sweeping slider in the mid-80’s. With that combo I’d expect to see him being a big time problem for right handed hitters thumbs in the ACC. Again, Florida State always puts together a tough pitching staff and with their transfer portal additions, 2026 will be no different.