Maryland Transfer Catcher Devin Russell Commits to Carolina Baseball
North Carolina may be getting ready for a super regional at Boshamer Stadium, but that hasn’t stopped Scott Forbes and staff from also focusing some of its attention on the transfer portal. On Wednesday, the Tar Heels secured a commitment from catcher Devin Russell, who played his first three years at Maryland. He’ll come to Chapel Hill as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.
This season, Russell played in 26 games for the Terrapins, platooning with fellow catcher Rylen Stockton. Russell slashed .250/.374/.602 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs in 108 plate appearances. In April, Russell became the first Maryland player to win Big Ten Player of the Week in over a year, an award he received after a weekend series against Indiana where he went 4-for-8, hitting two walk-off home runs. This season, after missing all of 2025 with an injury, Russell saw his batting average improve by 45 points from his junior campaign in 2024.
Footage Courtesy of Big Ten Plus
Looking ahead to 2027, catcher is a major question mark for the Tar Heels. Graduate transfer Colin Hynek will have exhausted his eligibility after this season, and junior Macon Winslow will have a decision to make regarding turning pro or returning to Chapel Hill for his senior season. Russell has an opportunity to step in and be a major piece for Carolina next year both behind the dish and at the plate.
