WVU Baseball Secures Commitment From Southern Illinois Catcher

West Virginia Mountaineers Head Coach Steve Sabins is dominating in the portal, grabbing transfers all across the diamond.
Catcher Logan Sauve 33 makes a catch as The LSU Tigers take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in game 1 of the 2025 NCAA Div 1 Super Regional Baseball Championship at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. Saturday, June 7, 2025.
Catcher Logan Sauve 33 makes a catch as The LSU Tigers take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in game 1 of the 2025 NCAA Div 1 Super Regional Baseball Championship at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. Saturday, June 7, 2025. | SCOTT CLAUSE / USATODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Steve Sabins completed his first season at the helm of West Virginia baseball with a loss to LSU on June 8 -- and immediately shifted his focus to recruiting in the transfer portal. 

Recently, former Southern Illinois catcher John Lemm announced his commitment to WVU. Lemm is the first player at his position to commit to WVU in the transfer portal.

Lemm is an excellent get for Sabins, as WVU baseball might be losing their current starter, Logan Sauve, to the MLB Draft in July. Even with rising sophomore Gavin Kelly, Sabins more than likely would like to have another catcher on the roster who has experience at the Division I level if possible. Lemm becomes the second position player to commit to WVU from a Division I program this offseason.

Lemm recorded a .272/.443/.661 slash line in his junior season. The Brisbane, Australia, native showcased power behind the dish in the Missouri Valley Conference. The lefty hitter also accumulated 11 doubles, 19 home runs, and 56 RBI. 

With the addition of Lemm, it seems increasingly unlikely that WVU is in the mix for Carson Tinney from Notre Dame. It was important that Sabins grabbed a catcher in the portal with the significant chance of Sauve going pro this summer, and Lemm should make for a great addition. 

Could Sabins and company still be on the hunt for transfers? WVU baseball fans shall wait and see who else Sabins can land for the Mountaineers out of the portal. 


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