In the transfer era, incoming freshmen are often overlooked as potential contributors to a team. WVU baseball head coach Steve Sabins has a “hands-on” approach to helping incoming freshmen transition into Division I baseball and just college life.
WVU baseball has witnessed the success of several true freshmen being important contributors to their teams’ success, including Gavin Kelly in 2025, Spencer Barnett in 2024, Logan Sauve in 2023, and current top MLB prospect JJ Wetherholt in 2022. Sabins is trying to aid his freshmen class in their development by bringing freshmen onto the WVU campus six weeks early. While arriving six weeks before the rest of the team, Sabins and his staff are helping to teach the young baseball players how to cook and complete household tasks.
West Virginia is taking a hands-on approach to help freshmen adjust, from cooking basics to building team bonds. Sabins and staff are laying the foundation early. #WVU
— WVSports.com (@WVSportsDotCom) July 29, 2025
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“Every incoming freshman gets on campus six weeks early to get acclimated to college life. A lot of them don’t know how to do laundry or crack an egg yet,” Sabins said on the 3 Guys Before The Game podcast about bringing the incoming freshmen onto campus six weeks early.
Sabins' approach is trying to do everything in his power to make sure that the incoming freshmen have the best chance to hit the ground running when their fall practice season begins. The upcoming second-year head coach strategy might assist the young players to be ready to compete for valuable roster spots, and maybe even starting spots for the 2026 season.
Freshmen can be valuable contributors to any college baseball team. Even with the transfer portal becoming a staple in most competitive programs around the country, freshman development is often overlooked and can greatly affect the impact that they have on the team.
Attempting to smooth the adjustment period for young baseball players coming into the WVU baseball program is an idea that Sabins seems to be committed to. Something that simple might have great measurements of success for the WVU baseball program and its seasons.