Main Story: St. Thomas is building its 2027 baseball roster with five Minnesota transfer additions alongside 11 freshmen. The transfers bring three pitchers and two position players, including proven Division II power hitter Mitch Iliff and several arms the coaching staff expects to compete for important innings.

By the Numbers
  • 11 incoming freshmen; 7 are from Minnesota.
  • 5 transfers: 3 pitchers and 2 position players.
  • 11 players departed after the 2026 season.
  • Iliff hit .349 with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs in 52 games in 2026.
Yes, But

Coach Chris Olean says player development remains the program’s focus, while acknowledging that the transfer portal has become more important to roster-building. The new group has promising credentials, but its impact at the Division I level remains to be seen.

Bottom Line

St. Thomas is pairing its freshman pipeline with experienced local transfers to address roster turnover and add power and pitching depth for 2027.