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Iowa Baseball picks up a portal commitment from Wagner OF Bryce Phelps

On3 imageby: Kyle Huesmann06/16/25HuesmannKyle
The Hawkeyes picked up a commitment from All-NEC outfielder Bryce Phelps.
The Hawkeyes picked up a commitment from All-NEC outfielder Bryce Phelps.

The transfer portal, for the most part, has been a very good source for the Iowa Baseball program over the past few years. Rick Heller and his staff have been able to find the right pieces to fill positions of need, and this offseason is no different, although, the new 34-player roster cap will limit how many additions they can make.

On Monday afternoon, the Hawkeyes earned their third commitment of the portal cycle, landing Wagner College outfielder Bryce Phelps. The Denver, Iowa native began his collegiate career at Southeastern CC and spent each of last two seasons with the Seahawks program. Bryce told HawkeyeReport that he also received interest and had conversations with Rutgers, Boston College, Elon, VCU, and Jacksonville.

“(It was) a combination of location, coaches, and teammates,” said Phelps. “Knowing that Iowa can be a place where I can go and compete with a bunch of guys that want to win, like my former Southeastern CC teammates Kooper Schulte and Caleb Wulf.”

“Just wanted to find the right fit at the highest level I could play at. The visit at Iowa was just as I remembered, felt like home. Having worked security at football games when I was at Southeastern Community College, I had a good feel for the outside of campus. Coach Heller and I had a great conversation. Talking about life, the program, and how I can fit in within the program as well. Talking to the coaches gave me the reassurance that I was wanted in the program. Having been recruited by them in high school and not working out I’m glad it circled back around.”

Out of Denver High School, Phelps was originally rated as the #4 outfielder in the state of Iowa by Perfect Game. He spent his two first collegiate seasons at Southeastern CC, including batting .354 as a sophomore and landing on the JUCO World Series All-Tournament Team.

“A simple way to describe how I play is that I’m a competitor. I’m not going to be the biggest or fastest, but I’ll compete. Having a winning mindset and caring more about team results rather than individual success. Just will do whatever it takes to make sure the team wins.”

After two seasons with the Blackhawks program, Phelps opted to transfer to the DI level, joining Wagner College in the Northeast Conference. As a junior for the Seahawks, Bryce appeared in 33 games, batting .195 over 177 at-bats, including 15 hits and eight RBI’s. This past season, Phelps had a breakout campaign, similar to the jump he took at Southeastern as a sophomore. He started 51 games, slashing .399/.482/.423, with 75 hits, 14 doubles, one home run and 33 RBI’s. Phelps struck out in just 11.7% of his 222 plate appearances and reached base via walk or hit by pitch in 14.0% of his plate appearances.

He earned First Team All-NEC honors, with his .404 regular season batting average ranking second-best in the conference. Meanwhile, his full season .399 batting average currently ranks 18th in the country, with the College World Series still ongoing. The NEC, per the RPI, ranked as the easiest conference in the country, while the Big Ten ranked as the fourth toughest. Phelps says he understands it will be a large jump in competition, but he believes he belongs.

“Yes, it’ll be a huge jump of competition level for sure (to the Big Ten),” said Phelps. “However, I’m a big believer that you play the game and not the uniform. I’m just going to show up and compete like I know how to, and the rest will take care of itself.”

As for where he may fit in with next year’s roster, the Hawkeyes outfield graduated Ben Wilmes, Andy Nelson and Connor Hennings, while Jackson Beaman entered the transfer portal. Miles Risley returns in centerfield, while Kellen Strohmeyer is in line to earn one of the corner outfield spots. Bryce Phelps will come in with a chance to earn the other corner outfield spot.

“With the talks we had during my visit, my role is to work towards being an everyday guy. Obviously, that’s what everyone wants but I have to work and still earn that right just like anyone else on the team,” said Phelps. “He said I’d be a corner outfield guy rotating between left and right depending on matchups.”

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