Below you’ll find information about the 10 players who have entered the transfer portal to leave Texas Tech Baseball. We of course wish them all well and hope they always consider themselves Red Raiders. There is some conjecture below regarding the motivations of some of the players we’re more familiar with as to their reasons for moving on. But please bear in mind, each of them is a college student working to figure out life and what’s best for them, their education, and their baseball career. We respect their decisions and encourage you to remember there are many more things players consider with a transfer than just playing time.
The logjam of extra eligibility granted due to COVID-19 and a shortened MLB Draft continues to clog rosters across the country. Now, with the ability to transfer once with no penalty, players are looking for opportunities to find more favorable circumstances, be closer to home, pursue a relationship, or whatever combination of variables it is they are considering.
The NCAA Transfer Portal is not publicly accessible, but some media outlets do have access. This information is all credited to D1 Baseball’s Transfer Tracker. As reported by D1 Baseball’s Kendall Rogers, the NCAA considered moving the July 1 transfer portal deadline back but did not. At this point, any other players looking to transfer will be subject to an individual waiver consideration, it is unclear how lenient the NCAA will be in the process. As of the deadline, more than 2,100 Division I NCAA players are in the transfer portal.
For a bit of perspective on Texas Tech’s 10 players in the portal, here are how Big 12 and 2021 CWS teams compare.
BU: 4 | KU: 12 | KSU: 9 | OU: 10 | OSU: 9 | TCU: 6 | UT: 7
Arizona: 19 | Mississippi State: 15 | NC State: 2 | Stanford: 2
Tennessee: 5 | Vanderbilt: 4 | Virginia: 5
There are transfers coming to Texas Tech as well, but we will cover them as we release information about the recruiting class following signing day.
JACKSON COBB
Cobb, a native of Texarkana, was a multi-sport athlete at Pleasant Grove High School and was recruited to play both baseball and football. The 5-11, 170lb infielder was a late transfer to Texas Tech from Arkansas and had not yet gained eligibility to play. He chose Arkansas over Texas A&M, Oregon, Texas State, Dallas Baptist, Louisiana, and Tulane.
According to Cobb’s Twitter profile, he will be continuing his playing career at Crowder College in Missouri. The Roughriders finished 3rd in the 2021 JUCO World Series losing to eventual champion McClennan Community College.
MICAH DALLAS
The potential departure of Micah Dallas is perhaps one of the biggest surprises to the Red Raider faithful. The high-energy RHP has seen successful innings as a starter, reliever, and closer in his time with the Red Raiders. The sophomore from Aubrey, Texas joined Texas Tech in 2019 and earned the Friday night starting role after a few appearances out of the pen. He helped push the Red Raiders to a Big 12 Championship and their deepest run in the College World Series to date. Dallas was tabbed as a D1 Baseball 2nd Team Freshman All-American for this season, and Kendall Rogers often touted Dallas as the benchmark of his “barfight meter” a reference to Dallas’ fiery style on the mound.
The 6-2, 205lb RHP transitioned to the bullpen in the shortened 2020 season and posted almost ridiculous numbers of a 0.57 ERA with 23 strikeouts and only 1 walk. Dallas gave up 1 earned run and 7 hits in 15.2 innings of work while holding opposing batters to a paltry .132 batting average. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper named Dallas a 2nd Team All-American for the 2020 campaign.
Dallas was pushed in and out of the starting lineup in 2021 due to injuries across the rotation and finished the season as a much-needed option out of a young and depleted bullpen. In 66.2 innings of work, Dallas posted a 3.51 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 20 walks.
Any player of his caliber has to look forward to the next level and the financial opportunity for a starting pitcher in the MLB Draft is generally higher than that of a reliever. Dallas is currently projected by Baseball America as the 329th pick, which places him in the 11th round. If Dallas views himself as a starter with projectability in the draft, it’s reasonable to assume he will be seeking that opportunity to prove himself for another year in college somewhere he can be guaranteed a place in the weekend rotation. There is of course also the option that he signs to play professional baseball.
JAMIE HITT
Jamie Hitt came to the Red Raiders from Concordia Lutheran in Magnolia, Texas. The 6-0, 175lb LHP was the 6th ranked LHP in Texas in the 2020 class.
He saw limited action in 2021 compiling a 5.79 ERA through 5 appearances totaling 4.2 innings. Hitt’s longest outing was 2.1 IP against Mississippi State during opening weekend at Globe Life Field.
MATTHEW LUNA
Matthew Luna came to Tech from East Central High School in San Antonio as a 6-3, 230lb LHP. He was the top-ranked LHP in Texas in the class of 2020.
He did not appear on the mound for the Red Raiders in 2021.
MAX MARUSAK
Max Marusak has been easy to root for in his time in Lubbock. The Amarillo High product brings a ++ speed tool to the diamond as well as a great attitude. The 6-0, 185lb Marusak was the top-ranked outfielder in Texas and 15th in the nation in the 2018 class by Perfect Game with a PG grade of 9.
He started 21 games for the Red Raiders in 2019 and appeared in 48, leading the team in triples with 4. Marusak started 5 games each of the last two seasons as he continued to work on his approach at the plate.
Marusak will be transferring to the University of Lousiana to play for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
NATE ROMBACH
Nate Rombach is one of the biggest surprises of the transfer season to Red Raider fans. The Mansfield Legacy product came in as a highly-touted recruit as a big bopper at the plate and solid defensive catcher. He came to Tech as the top-ranked catcher in Texas in the 2019 class by Perfect Game with a PG grade of 9.5. He was drafted in the 19th Round by the Marlins out of high school.
Rombach started all 19 games for the Red Raiders in the shortened 2020 season and announced his presence in a big way in opening weekend going 7-for-14, with 5 HR, 2 doubles, and 15 RBIs in the four-game homestand. He earned multiple National Player of the Week honors and was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
In 2021 Rombach started 30 games while appearing in 40. He belted 9 dingers and 7 more extra-base hits posting a .521 season slugging percentage. Rombach saw early-season work behind the dish and as his bat came on settled in at first base later in the season. Big Nate has been a fan favorite as he’s pounded “Romblasts” out of Rip Griffin Park.
The 6-4, 225lb freshman appears to have the skills of a prototypical first baseman and with his power and defensive instincts looks to have opportunities there at the next level. It may be safe to assume that Rombach is seeking an opportunity to continue catching and wants an opportunity to continue doing so as a regular starter.
BRAYDON RUNION
Braydon Runion game to the Red Raiders from Walters State Community College in Tennessee. A highly-touted JUCO transfer, the Florence, Kentucky native worked at the hot corner of third base in Fall scrimmages and saw time in right field as well.
The 6-0, 225lb transfer was the top-ranked 3B from Kentucky in the 2018 class by Perfect Game and carried a PG grade of 8.5. Runion appeared in 18 games for Tech, starting 11 of those. He struggled, however, to carve out a place for himself in the stacked Red Raider lineup.
CHASE WEBSTER
Chase Webster transferred to the Red Raiders from Chandler-Gilbert Community College in his hometown of Gilbert, Arizona.
The 6-4, 250lb Webster was the 2nd-ranked RHP out of Arizona in the 2018 class by Perfect Game. The sophomore made 10 appearances for the Red Raiders in 2021, tossing 8.2 innings of work en route to a 10.38 season ERA. Webster tallied 3 strikeouts and 7 walks and tallied a 1-0 record on the season.
LEVI WELLS
Levi Wells came to Texas Tech from LaPorte High School in LaPorte, Texas. The 6-0, 200lb freshman was the fifth-ranked RHP in Texas in the 2020 class by Perfect Game.
Wells made 17 appearances on the mound for the Red Raiders in 2021 compiling a 1-0 record. Over 17.2 innings of work, he tallied 21 strikeouts and 23 walks en route to a 7.64 ERA.
DREW WOODCOX
Drew Woodcox, a product of Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, came to the Red Raiders with a PG grade of 9 and as the eleventh-ranked SS in Texas by Perfect Game.
The 6-1, 200lb Woodcox saw eight starts in March and April at first base and appeared in 20 games for Tech in 2021. He belted two home runs, both as part of a nine-run fifth inning against South Florida on March 26.
