You'll often see fans of high-level Division 1 teams dismiss transfer additions from small colleges in a derisive manner. It happens plenty with West Virginia fans, even, with any addition from below the Division 1 level facing sme sort of fan scrutiny. But Steve Sabins and WVU baseball have made a habit of building a Division 2 pipeline, and it has continued to pay off.
In first season with Sabins at the helm, Griffin Kirn made the leap from the Division 2 level and was the ace pitcher for the Mountaineers. Last season, Chansen Cole, Ian Korn, and Dawson Montesa all earned starts on the mound for WVU after making the transition from the Division 2 level to the Big 12, with Cole and Montesa spending most of the season as weekend starters. So it should be no surprise to see the Mountaineers add another potential starter from that level in the portal.
Tampa (FL) transfer Robert Satin joins the West Virginia Mountaineers
The Mountaineers added a commitment from Robert Satin on Wednesday. Satin joins the Mountaineers after a standout season that saw him make 19 starts for the Tampa Spartans, posting a 13-2 records en route to leading the Spartans to capture the Division 2 National Championship.
#WVU has added another experienced arm to its 2027 pitching staff.
— WVSports.com (@WVSportsDotCom) June 24, 2026
Former Florida and Tampa left-hander Robert Satin is headed to Morgantown after going 13-2 with a 2.61 ERA while helping lead the Spartans to the Division II national championship.
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The standout southpaw gives off similar vibes as Montesa, who made a major jump between his first season and second season at Division 2 program Adelphi University. Satin went from a 4.10 ERA and 45 strikeouts during his first season at Tampa to a 2.61 ERA and 115 strikeouts during his second season, and he played a major role on the mound in leading the Spartans to the ultimate prize at their level.
Satin also adds another dimension previous Division 2 pitching transfers didn't – and that is previous Division 1 power conference experience. He began his career as a freshman at Florida, where he made 10 appearances out of the bullpen and recorded eight strikeouts and a 1-0 record for the Gators. So he clearly had the talent to draw the attention of programs in the top Division 1 baseball conference in the nation, and to make it onto the diamond as a true freshman.
Satin will now bring those skills to a pitching staff that is already set up for success next season, with Chansen Cole set to return, a Dawson Montesa return still a strong possibility, and freshman phenom David Perez and veteran JJ Glasscock among the other returners. And now, another Division 2 standout will continue to boost the skill level for the group.
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