Baseball national champion Derek Schaefer transfers from Tennessee, heading back home to ASU
ASU baseball is aiming to reclaim its status as a powerhouse, having won five National Championships in its history. The Sun Devils have just secured a transfer with that level of pedigree and experience.
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On X (formerly Twitter), Derek Schaefer, a former pitcher for Cactus Shadows High School and native of Cave Creek, announced that after winning a national championship in his freshman year, he will be transferring from Tennessee to ASU and returning to the Valley.
“Excited to compete for a school close to my heart and for a winning coach like Willie Bloomquist,” Schaefer said. “Back to the Valley. Let’s shock the world. All glory to God.”
During his freshman year at Tennessee, Derek Schaefer made 10 appearances, including two starts for the Volunteers, finishing with a 9.35 ERA, 10 strikeouts, and eight walks in 8.2 innings, with opponents batting .294 against him. In his sole SEC game, the 6-foot-2 right-hander allowed five runs in one inning against Georgia.
The Volunteers had a dominant season, achieving a 60-13 record overall and a 22-8 record in the SEC. They won the 2024 College World Series by defeating Texas A&M 2-1 in a three-game series.
After Tennessee reached the pinnacle of college baseball, Schaefer decided to enter the transfer portal on Monday.
Now, Schaefer has made a return to Arizona State, where he was originally recruited in high school. According to Tennessee’s website, he had initially chosen the Volunteers over ASU and Texas.
Bringing his championship experience to Arizona State is a significant boost for the team, which missed the NCAA Tournament last season after going 0-2 in the Pac-12 tournament and finishing with a 32-26 record. The Sun Devils have not appeared in a College World Series since 2010.
Schaefer joins fellow pitchers Ryan Minckler (Niagara), Will Koger (Louisville), and Chance Daquila (Campbell) who have also transferred to ASU for the 2025 season. Former UTSA infielder Matt King and Rice catcher Manny Garza are also committed to the Sun Devils program.
