USC Upstate OF Scott Campbell commits to Kentucky out of NCAA transfer portal

USC Upstate outfielder Scott Campbell has committed to Kentucky via the NCAA Transfer Portal, On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed. Campbell, who was named a First-Team Big South selection in 2025, was a pivotal member of the Spartan’s first ever NCAA Tournament team.

The Macon, GA native started 45 games for USC Upstate this season, hitting for a .388 batting average with 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 54 RBI, a .622 SLG% and a .498 OBP%.

Campbell will be headed to his fourth program in Kentucky, as his career started at Chattanooga State Community College (2022-23). He then spent a season at Charleston Southern (where former ‘Cat and future First Round MLB Draft pick Ryan Waldschmidt began his career) before heading to USC Upstate for the 2025 campaign.

He played in two games in the 2025 Clemson Regional, where he went 1-8 at the plate with a run scored. His lone hit came in Upstate’s 7-3 loss to his future team Kentucky, which ended the Spartans’ season.

Campbell becomes Kentucky‘s third position player to be added via the Transfer Portal. He is their 10th overall addition.

Incoming Transfers:

• RHP Ira Austin IV (New Orleans)
• RHP Jack Bennett (Western Kentucky)
• RHP Burkley Bounds (Eastern Kentucky)
• OF Scott Campbell (USC Upstate)
• INF Tyler Cerny (Indiana)
• C Alex Duffey (Elon)
• RHP Kaden Echeman (Northern Kentucky)
• RHP Connor Mattison (Grand Canyon)
• RHP Ryan Mullan (Loyola Marymount)
• RHP Bryson Treichel (North Florida)

Outgoing Transfers:

• C Nolan Belcher (Kent State)
• OF Griffin Cameron (Grand Canyon)
• RHP Bradley Ferrell (Georgia Southern)
• INF Landon Franklin
• INF Kyuss Gargett
• LHP Logan Grubb
• LHP Adam Hachman
• 1B Dylan Koontz
• INF Aidan Larkin
• UTIL Hayden Mains (Morehead State)
• OF/RHP James McCoy
• RHP Cooper Robinson
• UTIL Eli Small
• LHP Hayden Smith (Troy)
• RHP Zak Spurrier (Samford)

Along with a strong portal class, Kentucky returns a strong core of players headlined by sophomore shortstop Tyler Bell, junior left-handed pitcher Ben Cleaver, sophomore right-hander pitcher Nate Harris, freshman utility player Ryan Schwartz and redshirt sophomore first baseman Hudson Brown.

“I’m really excited about next year’s team,” head coach Nick Mingione said after Kentucky‘s 13-12 loss to West Virginia in the Clemson Regional Final. “I think if the guys continue to grow and develop and we bring all this back, depending on what happens with the Draft, if you told me we were a preseason top-10 team in the country I could believe it. That’s how highly I think of the guys we have coming back offensively.”