Th transfer portal continues to provide for Rick Heller and Iowa baseball, as the program continues to plug roster holes before next season.
Heller's transfer portal strategy has addressed some clear areas of need, including pitching and infield depth. The Hawkeyes have already added pitchers Reed Burkle (Kirkwood Community CC), Sam George (Minnesota State University-Mankato), and slugging 1B/OF Sawyer Stein (Iowa Central CC). With multiple areas of need addressed, the program isn't stopping there, grabbing a veteran infielder from the transfer portal to add even more infield depth.
Iowa added infielder Diego Frey from Division II Azusa Pacific
The Hawkeyes lost multiple key infield contributors after the 2025-2026 season, including Ben Swails (transfer portal), Caleb Wulf (graduation), Gable Mitchell (graduation), and Kooper Schulte (graduation), leaving many holes. IF Jaxion Frost returns and is the projected starter at third base, and transfer Sawyer Stein is the projected starter at first base.
That leaves two big holes in the middle of the infield, and Heller addressed that by snagging a stellar Division II infielder.
Blessed to be a Hawkeye!! 🐤🐤 pic.twitter.com/b9jEkeKaT4
— Diego Frey (@diegofreyy) June 24, 2026
Former Division II infielder Diego Frey announced he is signing with the Hawkeyes after spending the last three seasons with Azusa Pacific. Azusa Pacific competes in the PacWest Conference and is located in Azusa, California. In his first two seasons with the Cougars, he batted .271 with 15 hits and nine RBI in 44 games.
In a combined season with Azusa and the Lafayette Aviators in the Prospect Summer League in 2025, he had a breakout campaign, hitting .332 with 12 doubles and 38 RBI in 241 plate appearances. He made the interesting decision to sit out last season to preserve his final season of eligibility, while also entering the transfer portal. Frey will now be in a battle for a starting spot at either shortstop or second base, bringing a veteran presence to either spot.
Frey does not possess much power, hitting only two home runs in three seasons, but he brings solid contact and defensive versatility, with his ability to play multiple infield spots. It will be interesting to see if Heller puts him in the starting lineup or uses him as an IF utility guy, but he provides more depth and experience to a depleted infield.
Frey told On3 Sports that his visit to Iowa City "was incredible", and he immediately felt like Iowa was the "right fit."
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