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<\/a> Thursday after two years with Kentucky.<\/p>\n Schwartz\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n In all four of Kentucky\u2019s 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<\/a> graduate catcher Elie Kligman to support redshirt sophomore catcher Noah Miller behind the dish, and it\u2019s likely that Schwartz will assume a similar role.<\/p>\n In Schwartz\u2019s 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<\/a> and center fielder Evan Haeger<\/a>, both juniors who joined<\/a> Michigan from the portal<\/a>. Schwartz could be the latest in the Wolverines\u2019 development projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n