Pete Nakos with an update on Eric Becker.
One of the top available college baseball players in the transfer portal, Eric Becker’s recruitment is starting to come into focus. The Virginia shortstop entered the portal shortly after Brian O’Connor accepted the Mississippi State job.
But Becker has not committed to the Bulldogs yet, and a transfer to Starkville is not a done deal, sources have told On3. Already established himself as one of the best hitters in college baseball, he hit .362 as a freshman in 2024 with eight home runs and 46 RBI, slugging .669 with a 1.137 OPS.
In 2025, Becker was even better. He hit .368 on the season, adding nine homers and 52 RBI. The shortstop slugged .617 as a sophomore, with a 1.070 OPS. Becker also hit 21 doubles and has played three of the four positions on the infield in college, with the exclusion of first base.
From speaking to sources, Mississippi State is squarely in the mix for Eric Becker. But Texas has also emerged as a legitimate contender. A return to Virginia is another option, as Chris Pollard‘s staff has been in contact and is making an effort to get Becker to withdraw from the portal and return to Charlottesville.
Florida had expressed interest in Becker, but the Gators do not appear to be trending in the same way as Mississippi State, Texas or Virginia. To this point, O’Connor has added several Virginia transfers, including left-handed pitcher Tomas Valincius, outfielder James Nunnallee, utility player Chone James and outfielder Aidan Teel.