Pitt baseball continues to add former WPIAL players as they added Kent State transfer and South Fayette alum Richie Dell. Dell announced his commitment to the program in an Instagram post last Saturday, July 22.
“I am forever grateful for the past 4 years at Kent State and the relationships made along the way,” Dell wrote in his statement. “With that being said, I’m excited to announce I am grad transferring to the University of Pittsburgh to play my 5th year while also pursuing a master’s degree in sports medicine.”
Dell pitched for four year at Kent State from 2020-23, making 45 appearances, 18 starts and accruing a record of 10-9. He made 122 strikeouts, while allowing 145 hits, 80 walks, 85 earned runs and 22 home runs in 136.2 innings pitched.
After making just three appearances in the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season, Dell started nine games and made 13 appearances for a 4-3 record as a sophomore in 2021. He struck out 41 batters, while allowing 55 hits, 25 walks, seven home runs and 31 earned runs in 51.2 innings pitched.
Dell started eight games as a junior in 2022, made 14 appearances and had a record of 3-2. He made a career high 48 strikeouts, while allowing 55 hits, 26 walks, 29 earned runs and nine home runs for a 4.96 ERA in 52.2 innings pitched.
He mainly made appearances out of the bullpen last season as a senior, with 15 total appearances. He finished with a 3-4 record, struckout 25 batters, while allowing 32 hits, 26 walks, six home runs and 25 earned runs for a career high 8.23 ERA in 27.1 innings pitched.
Dell joins four former WPIAL players to transfer to Pitt this offseason. This includes three grad transfers in North Allegheny alum and Penn State left-handed pitcher Ryan Partridge, Hampton alum and New Orleans infielder Tyler Bischke and Avonworth alum and Youngstown State outfielder Turner Grau. Hempfield alum and Gardner-Webb redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Phil Fox is the other WPIAL player to join Pitt.
Rising junior first baseman Luke Cantwell, who transferred from Fairleigh Dickinson and graduate transfer left-handed pitcher Nathan Beimel round out the seven transfers so far.
Pitt baseball has seen at least 11 confirmed players transfer from the program and two players earn draft selections this offseason.
Pitt Transfers In for 2024
Graduate left-handed pitcher Nathan Beimel: (Columbia)
Graduate infielder Tyler Bischke: One Year (New Orleans)
Graduate right-handed pitcher Richie Dell: One Year (Kent State)
Graduate outfielder Turner Grau: One Year (Youngstown State)
Graduate left-handed pitcher Ryan Partridge: One Year (Penn State)
Junior first baseman Luke Cantwell: Two Years (Fairleigh Dickinson)
Redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Phil Fox: Â Three years (Gardner-Webb)
Pitt Transfers Out after 2023
Junior catcher Johnny Long III
Junior left-handed pitcher Zack Oswald: (High Point)
Junior infielder Justin Acal: (Nevada)
Sophomore infielder Tommy Tavarez
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Jonathan Bautista: (UCF)
Sophomore left-handed Quin Konuszewski: (Central Michigan)
First-year left-handed pitcher Sam Falace: (Siena)
First-year outfielder Carlos Martinez
First-year utility AJ Nessler: (UCF)
First-year right-handed pitcher Ryan Slattery: (State College of Florida/SCF) (JUCO)
First-year infielder Drew Ripepi: (Cisco College) (JUCO)
MLB Draft
Junior right-handed pitcher Logan Evans: Seattle Mariners (12th Round)
Junior right-handed pitcher Dylan Simmons: Cincinnati Reds (15th Round)
