Future Fireballer? West Virginia Strikes Gold With Electric Division II Ace Ian Korn
Watch out, Morgantown—there’s a new arm in town, and he’s bringing the heat. In a move that could rewrite the future of West Virginia baseball, new head coach Steve Sabins has pulled off a masterstroke in the transfer portal, snagging Division II Pitcher of the Year Ian Korn, a flame-throwing right-hander who just might be the Mountaineers’ next Opening Day ace.
This isn’t just your average portal pickup. This is a statement signing, a high-voltage addition that might just shift the balance of power on the mound in the Big 12.
From Under-the-Radar to Under-the-Lights: Ian Korn’s Meteoric Rise
If you’ve never heard of Seton Hill University, don’t worry—opposing batters probably wish they hadn’t either. Because Korn turned that modest D-II program into his own personal pitching laboratory, where hitters entered confident and exited humbled.
Let’s break it down:
- ERA: A jaw-dropping 1.81 over the course of the season—good luck finding daylight with numbers like that.
- Innings Pitched: 84.1 of them, and not a single one wasted.
- Strikeouts vs. Walks: 83 Ks to just 17 BBs—the kind of surgical control that keeps pitching coaches up late at night in awe.
- Opponent Batting Average: A frigid .197, with hitters flailing like they were swinging at ghosts.
- Extra-Base Hits Allowed: Only 15 in the entire season—just one home run.
This isn’t just dominance—it’s pitching perfection, precision, and poise rolled into one 6’3″ mound general with a cannon for an arm.
⚙️ The Mountaineer Makeover: A Rotation in Need of a Hero
With the departures of Griffin Kirn and Jack Kartsonas—WVU’s 1-2 punch on the mound last season—Coach Sabins faced a gaping void in his starting rotation. But instead of scrambling, he went hunting. And what he found was not just a bandage, but a potential centerpiece.
Ian Korn doesn’t arrive in Morgantown to fill innings—he arrives to anchor. To lead. To intimidate. He brings four years of experience, a complete arsenal of pitches, and a bulldog mentality that oozes Opening Day potential.
He’s not a long-term project—he’s a one-year weapon. And that’s exactly what WVU needed.
From the Shadows to the Show: Korn’s Career Numbers Speak Louder Than Hype
Across four seasons at Seton Hill, Korn carved out a reputation as a cold-blooded competitor:
- Career Record: 16-6
- Career ERA: 2.84
- Total Strikeouts: 145
- Walks Issued: A minuscule 42
These aren’t bloated mid-major stats. These are legit metrics that scream readiness. Korn didn’t just beat lesser hitters—he dismantled them, outing after outing, year after year.
Coach Sabins’ Chess Move: A Calculated Risk or Genius Steal?
Let’s be real—some programs might’ve looked past a D-II pitcher, even one with Korn’s accolades. But Sabins saw something deeper: the intangibles. The grit. The chip on the shoulder. The hunger to prove he belongs at the highest level of college baseball.
And if that gamble pays off? WVU might’ve just landed the most valuable arm in the portal.
With one year of eligibility left, Korn arrives at West Virginia with something to prove and everything to gain. He’s not just fighting for innings—he’s gunning for the spotlight, for the scouts, for that golden shot at the pros.
Big 12 Beware: The Storm is Brewing
Make no mistake—this isn’t just a transfer. It’s a warning shot. A message that West Virginia isn’t content to rebuild—they’re ready to reload. With Korn in the fold, the Mountaineers may have just transformed their biggest weakness into a fortress.
Imagine him under the Friday night lights, the crowd roaring, the radar gun flashing 95+. Now imagine being a Big 12 hitter trying to catch up to that heater—or worse, guessing wrong on a wicked slider.
The Korn Era Begins…
In a sport built on inches and instincts, pitching changes everything. And in Ian Korn, West Virginia may have found its new ace, a dark horse with the stuff, the swagger, and the story to lead a revolution on the mound.
Get ready, Morgantown. The winds are shifting. The mound is waiting.
And Ian Korn is coming to claim it.
