USC DH AUGIE LOPEZ ENTERS NCAA TRANSFER PORTAL

USC sophomore Augie Lopez runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning of a 7-1 win over Texas A&M in the College Station Regional on Monday night.

(Chris Mora / USC Athletics)

USC baseball suffered a significant offseason loss on Thursday as sophomore designated hitter and catcher Augie Lopez entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Lopez became one of the biggest names to leave the Trojans following a season that helped USC return to national relevance and reach the NCAA Tournament.

Lopez emerged as one of the most productive bats in the USC lineup during the 2026 season. The sophomore finished the year hitting .272 while leading the Trojans with 19 home runs and driving in 57 runs. Lopez was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2026 NCAA College Station Regional. The sophomore DH had eight hits and nine RBIs across five games.  

The departure does not come as a surprise to many Trojan fans as USC baseball has struggled with NIL funding compared to other top teams in college baseball. 

Following their regional appearance last season, USC lost both its top hitter and top pitcher when center fielder Brayden Dowd and starting pitcher Caden Aoki entered the transfer portal. Dowd headed to Florida State and was a major contributor to the Seminoles 2026 season and helped them lock down a host spot. Aoki transferred to Georgia, immediately becoming one of the Bulldogs’ best pitchers and leading Georgia to Omaha. 

The loss of Lopez stings, and unfortunately for Trojan fans, this will not be the only big loss on the 2026 super regional roster. Many of USC's top players will command larger NIL deals, and the Trojans may not be able to match the offers they receive elsewhere. 

As the offseason begins, USC will turn its attention to the transfer portal in search of reinforcements while attempting to replace one of the most impactful hitters the program has developed in recent years. Head coach Andy Stankiewicz and his staff will also prepare for the likely possibility of additional departures as roster movement continues across college baseball.