Oklahoma Sooners HC Skip Johnson pulls big SEC fish out of college baseball transfer portal

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Adam Holt | Last updated Jun 7, 2025 8:38 AM ET

The Oklahoma Sooners are wasting no time making some major moves to improve their roster on the diamond. They just landed a notable SEC transfer that can come in to make a difference immediately for their ball club on offense and possibly even on the pitching side, too.

Transfer OF Nolan Stevens commits to Oklahoma

Mississippi State OF/Pitcher Nolan Stevens committed to the Sooners on Friday. Stevens is a toolsy player with legitimate upside both at the plate and on the mound.

TRANSFER: Mississippi State OF Nolan Stevens is headed to University of Oklahoma. .320/.414/.500 this season in just 37 games. Huge bat speed and raw power from the left side. Immediately profiles into the middle of the Sooners lineup. 2026 eligible.
pic.twitter.com/EgqgpXXwW0
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) June 7, 2025

As Doyle notes, this is a swing on potential by Skip Johnson's staff.

Stevens is an ultra-gifted athlete that loves to pull the ball with power. He needs to cut down on strikeouts in order to be an everyday bat in the SEC, but the Sooners have a track record at helping young players improve in that department.

I am excited to keep the family tradition going at the University of Oklahoma! #CHA⭕️US pic.twitter.com/EIolmc3Tom
— nolan stevens (@nolanstevens3) June 7, 2025

The Oklahoma Sooners fell short of what could have been a great season for them, with Skip Johnson somehow pulling together a pretty impressive season when you think about the start of the year, and how they finished the regular season, with the major skid they had, too. Kyson Witherspoon looks like one of, if not the best pitcher in the country, and some of the bats were on full display throughout the season. But, the reality is, there will be a lot of open roster spots next season, and the Sooners will need to try and improve in those spots, or at least try and stay the same if they want a chance at having a better season in 2026. This move won't significantly impact the Sooners nationally, but it does improve their roster if they can continue to add more pieces throughout the offseason.

-- Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports

For Mississippi State, Stevens' opportunities on the mound were limited. There is a possibility that he chooses to focus on the hitting side of his game only with Oklahoma, but there's plenty of time to discuss and attack that concept before next season begins in Norman.

As they get ready for the weekend, OU also got UNLV transfer RHP LJ Mercurius and Nebraska infielder Cayden Brumbaugh to commit on Friday. All three of those transfers will make an impact in 2026 for the Sooners.