USC Baseball Faces Roster Turnover as Relievers Enter Transfer Portal

On Thursday, third-year sophomore right-hander Garren Rizzo and second-year left-hander Ben Cushnie announced their entry into the NCAA transfer portal. A day later, freshman right-hander Jake Sekany joined them. All three have contributed innings for the Trojans this season, and each now seeks a new opportunity elsewhere.

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The Trojans concluded the 2025 campaign with a 48-18 record, the most wins since 1998, and secured their first super-regional appearance since 2005. The team finished tied for third in the Big Ten (20-10) and earned a No. 9 RPI after conference play. Despite a strong overall record, a 1-11 mark against Quadrant 1 opponents kept USC from hosting a regional, sending them to the College Station Regional before advancing to the Chapel Hill super-regional, where they fell one game short of the College World Series.

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• Garren Rizzo entered USC as part of the 2022 recruiting class alongside Mason Edwards and Grant Govel. After a freshman year marked by a 7.30 ERA over 37 innings, he posted a strong start to the 2025 season with four consecutive wins and 9.2 scoreless innings. An elbow injury in his first start required surgery, limiting him to a single out in the first six weeks of 2026 and a brief appearance in the super-regional, where he recorded a scoreless inning.

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• Ben Cushnie arrived as a true freshman in 2025, receiving increased work due to injuries to Rizzo, Mikey Ebner, and inconsistencies among left-handed relievers Sax Matson and Dylan Osborne. He finished 2025 with a 3.68 ERA over 14.2 innings in 11 appearances. In 2026, after missing most of the first month, he posted a 1.64 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 22 innings in 18 outings. A source told USCFootball.com that Cushnie is seeking a larger role as a starter, an option not available with the Trojans.

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• Jake Sekany, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound right-hander from Livermore, California, is the son of former Red Sox second-round pick Jason Sekany. He appeared only in USC’s opening midweek game, delivering two outs while allowing a solo home run and a walk in a 14-4 win over Loyola Marymount. He will enter his next program as a redshirt freshman.

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The NCAA transfer portal opened on June 1 and closed on June 30. USC’s roster, heavily weighted toward upperclassmen, faces potential attrition from the MLB draft. Prospects such as junior left-hander Mason Edwards, sophomore Grant Govel, and juniors Adrian Lopez, Augie Lopez, and Isaac Cadena are projected draft candidates. Conversely, the Trojans added Isaac Cadena (TCU), right-handers Chase Herrell and Adam Troy (the latter recorded 12 saves) in the prior portal cycle. Some prior additions—left-hander Ace Whitehead, right-hander Matthew Morrell, and outfielder Brock Slaton—failed to contribute due to injuries or limited performance.

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• Team record: 48-18 (20-10 Big Ten)

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• RPI: No. 9 after conference tournaments

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• Quadrant 1 record: 1-11

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• Rizzo: 7.30 ERA (freshman), 0.00 ERA in super-regional inning

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• Cushnie: 3.68 ERA (2025), 1.64 ERA / 1.00 WHIP (2026)

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• Sekany: 2-out appearance, 1 earned run in 14-4 win

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No official statements from head coach Andy Stankiewicz or the USC athletic department regarding the departures were provided in the sources. Consequently, the precise motivations behind each player’s portal entry remain undocumented.

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The three relievers will evaluate offers from other programs while USC finalizes its 2026 roster amid draft selections and additional portal activity. The Trojans aim to retain core contributors and integrate incoming talent to build on the historic 2025 season and pursue a College World Series berth.

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