On Thursday, the Michigan baseball team added its first player out of the portal following the 2026 season. sophomore catcher Ryan Schwartz announced his commitment to the Wolverines via Instagram Thursday after two years with Kentucky.
Schwartz’s commitment came a week after Pete Nakos of On3 reported that Michigan was hosting an SEC transfer prospect. The former Wildcat primarily played at catcher, but showed versatility as a utility player with stints in corner outfield and even an appearance on the mound with a third of an inning pitched.
In all four of Kentucky’s games at the 2026 NCAA Regionals, Schwartz entered late in the game at right field as a defensive substitution, but logged no offensive statistics. Last year, Wolverines coach Tracy Smith acquired graduate catcher Elie Kligman to support redshirt sophomore catcher Noah Miller behind the dish, and it’s likely that Schwartz will assume a similar role.
In Schwartz’s freshman campaign with Kentucky, he slashed .317/.461/.500 but fell in average last year, slashing .243/.348/.400 in 2026. The Wolverines have a good track record for maximizing production from transfers, including the likes of second baseman Colby Turner and center fielder Evan Haeger, both juniors who joined Michigan from the portal. Schwartz could be the latest in the Wolverines’ development projects.
Michigan’s first new talent out of the portal backs up key fielding behind the plate and in the outfield. By reinforcing what the Wolverines retain from their 2026 campaign, Schwartz is a valuable addition to Smith’s clubhouse.
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