After turning down a MLB opportunity from the Seattle Mariners, multiple sources have confirmed to me that starting pitcher Griffin Stieg will return to Virginia Tech instead of transferring to Alabama as he previously announced.
Here’s how we got here.
About two months ago, near the beginning of June, Griffin Stieg a starting pitcher for Virginia Tech in 2024, had entered the transfer portal.
A month later, he announced his commitment to Alabama while retaining his MLB Draft eligibility.
Stieg was then drafted in the 18th round by the Seattle Mariners, I have been monitoring the situation to find out if he would go to Alabama or sign with the Mariners.
Despite that, on July 28th - the MLB Draft signing deadline - Griffin Stieg neither. Just days later, Stieg has decided to return to VT instead of transferring to Alabama.
In 2024, Stieg pitched an excess of 50 innings with a 4.70 ERA as the Hokies Sunday Starter. He suffered a major near the end of the season against UVA that required Tommy John surgery. He punched out 48 batters while walking just 13 along with an opponent slash line of .263/.330/.361 during his single starting season.
Both Baseball America and the MLB Draft Board had him as a top 250 draft prospect, so it was expected that he would be drafted in the top ten rounds, but he fell to the 18th, likely due to his major injury and small track record of just over 70 career innings pitched.
Stieg will likely find himself as a starter in the 2026 season if he is fully recovered from his injury, and I believe that he is. For obvious reasons, I expect Brett Renfrow to be the Friday starter once again. I expect Aiden Robertson and Griffin Stieg battling it out for the second starting spot, with the other earning to Sunday starter role.
