ECU Bolsters Pitching Staff With West Virginia Transfer Gavin Van Kempen

East Carolina continues to reshape its bullpen and rotation ahead of the 2026 season, this time with a big addition — literally and figuratively — in the form of Gavin Van Kempen, a towering right-hander from West Virginia. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound pitcher is set to spend his final year of eligibility in Greenville, bringing a wealth of Division I experience with him.

Van Kempen, originally from Castleton, New York, was a standout at Maple Hill High School before being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 20th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. He turned down the pros to begin his college career with the Mountaineers.

As a freshman in Morgantown, Van Kempen logged 12 appearances, including four starts, finishing with a 3-0 record and 5.47 ERA across 26.1 innings, while striking out 21 batters and walking 13. He followed that up with a breakout season in 2024, going 7-1 with a 3.14 ERA across 13 appearances, five of which were starts.

Over his three-year WVU career, Van Kempen made 39 total appearances (22 starts), compiling a 12-1 record with a 4.94 ERA. He struck out 93 hitters in 94.2 innings, walked 53, and held opposing batters to 84 hits.

This past spring, Van Kempen opened the season in the rotation and looked sharp out of the gate. However, inconsistent outings in Big XII play paired with a shoulder injury caused him to miss time and limited his impact down the stretch.

Van Kempen now becomes the fourth pitching transfer to join the Pirates this offseason, alongside Joseph Webb (Liberty), Thomas Paxton (Belmont Abbey), and Gavin Marley (Lenoir-Rhyne). With major innings to replace from last year’s staff, the Pirates are banking on experience and physicality and Van Kempen brings plenty of both.