Wright State Transfer Pitcher Sebastian Gongora Commits to Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville baseball program has made yet another splash in the transfer portal.

Sebastian Gongora, a left-handed pitcher who spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career at Wright State before entering the transfer portal, announced Tuesday that he has committed to the Cardinals.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound lefty is coming off of a fantastic 2023 campaign, one where he was named the Horizon League's Pitcher of the Year. In 16 starts, Gongora posted a 10-1 record and 3.17 ERA, while striking out 89 batters and walking only 33 over 93.2 innings pitched. Gongora also picked up East-ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team honors.

After redshirting his true freshman campaign in 2021, the Dayton, Oh. native had an impactful year during his first season on the bump as well. He went 5-1 with a 5.88 ERA in 16 games and 15 starts, putting up a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 81-31 in 82.2 innings.

Gongora's addition is a big boost to Louisville's weekend pitching rotation for the 2024 season. While the Cardinals do retain Carson Liggett for next year, they're also losing Friday night ace pitcher Ryan Hawks and pseudo-starter Tate Kuehner to the MLB Draft.

Head coach Dan McDonnell said following the end of the 2023 season that he would break his stance on the transfer portal, and start to utilize it when it comes to roster construction. Since then, they have made four portal acquisitions, with Marist infielder Dylan Hoy, Quincy University (D2) catcher Luke Napleton and Lewis University (D2) right-handed pitcher Jake Karaba joining Gongora.

Louisville began their 2023 campaign at 18-2 and ranked as high as the No. 2 team in the nation, only to lose 22 of their final 35 games of the season and play their way out of an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. Not only did the Cardinals miss the Big Dance for the second time in three years, but they failed to clinch a spot in their conference tournament for the first time since 1970.

(Photo of Sebastian Gongora via Wright State Athletics)

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