After a one-year stay on Monteagle Ridge, Eric Rataczak is continuing his collegiate career in the Volunteer State.
In a social media post Monday, Rataczak announced he transferred to join reigning national champion, the University of Tennessee, via the transfer portal. The soon-to-be redshirt senior helped Niagara win 38 games, clinch the MAAC title and make its first NCAA tournament appearance in program history this season.
The MAAC Player of the Year, Rataczak finished the season with a .396 average along with 17 home runs and 71 RBIs. Rataczak set new single-season records for Niagara in runs and (59), hits (88) along with home runs and RBIs.
The Circle Pines, Minnesota resident also led the MAAC in batting average, OPS (1.183), RBI and on-base percentage (.485) and was the only Niagara player to appear in all 55 games this season, with 53 starts.
Rataczak was also a unanimous selection to the MAAC first team and was a second-team all-region selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Rataczak was also the first Purple Eagle to hit a home run in the NCAA Tournament.
Before joining Niagara, Rataczak attended the University of San Diego and Arizona Western College, where he played in 32 games, batted .314, drove in 11 runs and scored an additional 16.
Before joining the Volunteers, Rataczak played in the MLB Draft League and is still eligible for this year’s draft, which begins Sunday.