WVU baseball had to rebuild its pitching staff for the 2026 season after losing two pitchers in the 2025 MLB Draft and one signing an undrafted free agent deal after the draft.
WVU baseball head coach Steve Sabins has attacked the transfer portal from multiple angles, particularly when seeking new arms to join the Mountaineers' pitching staff for the 2026 season. Among several additions to the pitching staff, two pitchers from the portal are expected to be tasked with eating a lot of innings for WVU this upcoming season. 2025 DII Pitcher of the Year, Seton Hill transfer Ian Korn and Adelphi University transfer Dawson Montesa are two names to be on the lookout for in WVU’s pitching staff.
Korn and Montesa are first and second, respectively, in the Big 12 for incoming transfer pitchers in WARc. Korn with a 1.865 WARc and Montesa recorded a 1.638 WARc in 2025, and are the top pitchers in said category transferring into the league.
The Big 12’s Top 10 Incoming Transfer Pitchers, based on 2025 competition-adjusted WARc. pic.twitter.com/9eWsoetzRJ
— BASE 12 (@base12sports) October 28, 2025
Korn, a six-foot right-handed pitcher, finished his 2025 season going 11-2 with a 1.81 ERA, adding 83 strikeouts in 84.1 innings pitched. Recording 8.85 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, Korn showcased an ability to get swing and misses at an elite level at the Division II level.
For Montesa, his 2025 season at Adelphi finished with an 8-1 record, posting an ERA below 2.00 (1.99 ERA in 2025), adding 105 strikeouts in 72.1 innings pitched. Topping Korn’s impressive 8.85 strikeouts per nine innings, Montesa’s strikeouts per nine innings are a super impressive 13.06. The 6’1” right-handed pitcher was one of the best in Division II at racking up strikeouts. Ranking as the third-best pitcher in Division II in strikeouts per nine innings, Montesa was one of the best arms in Division II at getting swings and misses.
Korn and Montesa are going to be candidates for the three weekend starter spots, along with other candidates like sophomore Tucker DeLisle, who had a good summer ball season, Newberry College transfer Chasen Cole, returning junior Chase Meyer, and returning junior Carson Estridge.