Baseball in Baton Rouge: WVU Star Drops Worrisome Update – “I Am Leaving After…”
In a quiet, sun-drenched corner of Baton Rouge, a storm is brewing—and it’s not coming from the sky, but from the heart of WVU’s baseball faithful. Paul Schoenfeld, the left-handed ace who carried West Virginia University to its most thrilling postseason in over a decade, has just stunned Mountaineer Nation with a gut-wrenching update.
“I am leaving after this summer,” Schoenfeld said in a solemn postgame media scrum following WVU’s 6–4 loss to LSU in the Baton Rouge Super Regional. “Not because I want to, but because I need to.”
The 21-year-old junior, fresh off a heroic eight-inning, 11-strikeout performance just days earlier, revealed that he will be entering the NCAA transfer portal, citing “deep personal reasons” and a desire for “closer support systems.” Though he didn’t specify a destination, whispers around the dugout pointed toward programs in the Carolinas or even a potential jump to professional ball.
“I love Morgantown. I love Coach Mazey. But I’ve played this game with a lot on my chest this season. My dad’s health… my own mental battles… it’s taken its toll,” Schoenfeld said, his voice barely steady. “This place shaped me. But I need to find my next chapter—where baseball and life can balance.”
The news was met with a stunned silence across social media. WVU fans, who had rallied behind the team’s improbable postseason run, flooded Schoenfeld’s Instagram with messages of support. Teammates like catcher Darius Walker posted tributes, with one saying, “The best I ever caught. Wherever you go, they better be ready for a storm.”
Schoenfeld’s departure adds uncertainty to a WVU pitching staff already navigating a transition year. The Mountaineers defied expectations in 2025, posting a 40-20 record and clinching their first-ever Super Regional berth on the road. Schoenfeld, whose 1.96 ERA ranked third in the Big 12, was the linchpin of their success.
“He’s got the stuff to pitch in Omaha or the majors. But what impressed me more this year was his resilience,” said Coach Randy Mazey. “You never know what a guy’s going through behind the scenes, but Paul gave us everything he had. He’ll always be a Mountaineer.”
Despite the emotional weight of the announcement, Schoenfeld didn’t rule out a return to Morgantown someday.
“I’m not burning any bridges,” he said. “WVU gave me a platform. Maybe one day, I’ll wear the Flying WV again—whether as a player, coach, or just a fan in the stands.”
For now, the Baton Rouge sunset marks not just the end of a remarkable WVU season, but the beginning of a new, uncertain journey for one of college baseball’s brightest stars.
