Transfer Spotlight: Shaun Montoya
As a new era of Kentucky Baseball emerges, it’s time to take a look at some new faces making their way to Lexington from the Transfer Portal this offseason.
Right fielder Shaun Montoya, who will be a redshirt senior next season, announced that he would be transferring to Kentucky from San Diego State on July 8.
The Rancho Cucamonga, CA native spent three seasons at San Diego State after transferring from UC Irvine. In 148 career games, Montoya boasts a career .306 batting average with 27 doubles, five home runs, 43 RBI, and 31 stolen bases. He was named a Second-Team All-Mountain West Selection in 2023.
He was ranked the 177th overall player in the Transfer Portal according to 64Analytics.com. This past season, the outfielder hit for a .327 batting average with nine doubles, three home runs, and 17 RBI.
“My time at SDSU was nothing but the best,” Montoya said. “I was really appreciative of the opportunity that Coach [Mark] Martinez gave me as a freshman. In addition, playing with and then for Coach [Max] Foxcroft was fun. I loved the culture at SDSU and the guidance of Coach [Tony] Turasco and [Julius] McDougal on the offensive side. They both helped me tremendously with the fine points of the game especially my approach to hitting and base running.”
Kentucky’s recent success over the past two seasons has been instrumental in cementing itself as a premier transfer portal destination. Since the start of the 2023 season, the Wildcats boast the fourth best overall winning percentage (70%) among SEC teams and are tied for the second best winning percentage against SEC competition (63%).
“I knew that Kentucky has been a good program,” Montoya said. “The two years before they were in a Super Regional. And this past year in Omaha. I know that that have a good foundation that they have implemented in the culture in the program. And it has always been a dream of mine to go play in the SEC and compete in the biggest stage in college baseball.”
The San Diego State transfer originally committed to Cal State Fullerton, but Kentucky swooped in at the last minute to win the Montoya sweepstakes. His add was instrumental for the Wildcats, as they’ve lost outfielders Ryan Waldschmidt (MLB Draft), Nolan McCarthy (Transfer Portal), Lukas Schramm (Transfer Portal), and Ben Higdon (Transfer Portal) this offseason.
“I really like how [Nick Mingione and Dan Roszel] are family oriented and that is important to both. And have both done a great job helping me transition to Kentucky and SEC baseball. My goal is to bring experience and work ethic, and to fill whatever the needs are.”
Montoya joins RHP Cooper Robinson, South Dakota State transfer RHP Ryan Verdugo, and Cal transfer RHP Oliver Boone as the four Californians on next year’s team.
Prior installments in the Transfer Spotlight series:
Montoya is one of 16 incoming transfers (so far) for Nick Mingione’s Wildcats, and is the third from a Power-Five school, joining catcher Raphael Pelletier (Kansas State) and right-handed pitcher Oliver Boone(Cal). Stay tuned to KSR’s 2025 Kentucky Baseball Roster Tracker for all updates on the offseason and next season’s squad.
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