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Purdue Fort Wayne transfer 2B Justin Osterhouse commits to Alabama

Danby: Daniel Hager06/07/25DanielHagerOn3
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Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn watches the game progress from the dugout as the Tide played UAB at Sewell-Thomas Stadium Tuesday, April 15, 2025. | © Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Purdue Fort Wayne second baseman Justin Osterhouse has committed to Alabama via the NCAA Transfer Portal, he revealed on X/Twitter Saturday night. Osterhouse was an All-Horizon League Second-Team selection in 2025.

The Grand Rapids, MI native started 52 games for IPFW this season, leading the team in batting average (.328), on-base percentage (.453), slugging percentage (.636), runs (51), hits (64), RBIs (46), home runs (16), total bases (124), hit by pitches (15) and stolen bases (13).

Osterhouse made waves around college baseball earlier this season when he hit four home runs, including a walk-off grand slam, and had the pitching win vs. Wright State on May 15, 2025. That would be a stellar performance against any team, but putting up numbers like that against a team that made the Nashville Regional Final is extremely impressive.

His great sophomore season however didn’t quite translate to success for Purdue Fort Wayne, as the Mastodons finished with an 11-42 (9-20) record in their final season. Their program was discontinued following the conclusion of their 2025 campaign.

Osterhouse will now be headed to an Alabama program that put up a 41-18 (16-14) record and made the NCAA Tournament. He’ll be replacing senior Brennen Norton at second base, teaming up with shortstop Justin Lebron in the middle infield. Osterhouse seems to be an upgrade at the position, as Norton hit for just a .232 average with seven home runs and 22 RBIs this season.

Although they headed into the Hattiesburg Regional with a 41-16 record, the Crimson Tide were eliminated in just two games. Head coach Rob Vaughn, who just wrapped up his second season as head coach, claimed that they just weren’t good enough following the end of their season.

“We’ve got a tough group of kids,” Vaughn continued. “We weren’t good enough and ultimately that is my responsibility to make sure we get better. That we prepare them better. That we coach them better. We have to do all of that stuff. But what I can tell you is they gave me every tiny thing of what they had.”

Alabama certainly got better with the addition of Osterhouse on Saturday, their first position player out of the portal. He joins right-handed pitcher Kaden Humphrey (North Florida) and right-handed pitcher Matthew Tippie (Texas State) as the first three incoming pieces for the 2026 Crimson Tide roster.

You can keep up with On3’s 2025 live transfer portal tracker here.