There were 2,600+ transfers to hit the portal after the end of the season. D1Baseball came up with their list of the Top 130 impact players out of the 2,600+ portal transfers and IU landed two players on that list. Here they are:
31. Nick Mitchell, OF (Western Illinois to Indiana)
Anyone who has seen Mitchell in person feels like he’s a fantastic addition for a Hoosiers club that’s expected to be solid in 2024. Mitchell is 5-foot-10 and is coming off back-to-back outstanding seasons for the Leathernecks. As a freshman, he hit .342 with a home run and 26 RBIs, while this past season, he hit .354 with 17 doubles, six triples, four homers and 24 RBIs, along with a 1.022 OPS.
126. Ben Grable, RHP (Northwestern to Indiana)
This could be one of the more fascinating pickups out of the portal this offseason. Grable is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound, righthanded pitcher who has a massive arm with some iffy results. Grable is anywhere from 95 to the triple digits with his fastball, but there was a caveat last season. Grable had an ERA north of five and struggled with his command at times. If he can hone everything in, the arm strength is there to have a massive campaign for the Hoosiers.
Note: D1Baseball still has 30 players to go on their list, but knowing that Mitchell was considered to be IU's top pick up by them even before this list was started, this should be it for IU. To have two players on their top 130 list out of 2600+ portal transfers, is not too shabby, and I hope they are right on.
31. Nick Mitchell, OF (Western Illinois to Indiana)
Anyone who has seen Mitchell in person feels like he’s a fantastic addition for a Hoosiers club that’s expected to be solid in 2024. Mitchell is 5-foot-10 and is coming off back-to-back outstanding seasons for the Leathernecks. As a freshman, he hit .342 with a home run and 26 RBIs, while this past season, he hit .354 with 17 doubles, six triples, four homers and 24 RBIs, along with a 1.022 OPS.
126. Ben Grable, RHP (Northwestern to Indiana)
This could be one of the more fascinating pickups out of the portal this offseason. Grable is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound, righthanded pitcher who has a massive arm with some iffy results. Grable is anywhere from 95 to the triple digits with his fastball, but there was a caveat last season. Grable had an ERA north of five and struggled with his command at times. If he can hone everything in, the arm strength is there to have a massive campaign for the Hoosiers.
Note: D1Baseball still has 30 players to go on their list, but knowing that Mitchell was considered to be IU's top pick up by them even before this list was started, this should be it for IU. To have two players on their top 130 list out of 2600+ portal transfers, is not too shabby, and I hope they are right on.
