Four experienced transfers join Trisha Ford's 2025 Texas A&M squad

Coming into 2025 with a top-10 ranking, Texas A&M softball added valuable pieces via the transfer portal.

Four prominent players have made their way to Aggieland to help strengthen the Aggies for another competitive year in the SEC.

Californian Mac Barbara joins three Texas natives — Grace Sparks, Ojo Johnson and Sidne Peters — to bolster A&M’s roster with their blend of offense, defense and pitching. Their previous stints around the country have primed them for a new journey in College Station, and they are ready to elevate the Aggies to unparalleled success this season.

Each transfer brings something unique to the table, and together, these four women add depth and star power to the Aggies' lineup and pitching staff to position A&M for success.

As we head into the season, Trisha Ford will look to integrate these transfers into the Aggies’ chemistry, but with their skill sets and leadership abilities, the future looks bright for A&M softball.

INF Mac Barbara - Graduate Student from Long Beach, CA - SDSU

Barbara comes to Aggieland as a graduate student after successful runs at Ole Miss and San Diego State. The California native played at Saint Joseph High School, where she earned first-team all-state honors and was a four-time league player of the year honoree. As a junior, Barbara racked up 11 home runs, the second most in the state. Her senior season saw her post a .455 average with nine homers, which tied for fourth in the state.

Beginning her collegiate career at Ole Miss, Barbara spent two seasons with the Rebels as an infielder and catcher. Her freshman season was cut short because of COVID-19, but she played a full season in 2021 and hit .250.

Barbara transferred to SDSU in 2022, and it was pivotal for her play as she played first base and catcher. In her first year with the Aztecs, Barbara clubbed 18 home runs, 61 RBIs, 32 runs, 14 doubles and a triple to go along with a .395/.493/.802 slash line. She reached base safely in 40 consecutive games, which was the longest streak in the country and set a program record.

Starting her sophomore season with a spot on the USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List, Barbara hit .358 in 2023 with 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, 34 runs, nine doubles, a triple and 33 walks. She slugged .673 with a .469 on-base percentage. Defensively, she committed just one error in 156 chances on the season. That year, she led SDSU in home runs, total bases, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. She started 55 of SDSU’s 56 games, including 27 as the designated player.

In perhaps her best campaign yet, Barbara led the Aztecs with a .380 batting average. She also posted eight doubles (second on the team), a triple, 14 home runs, 49 RBIs and 33 runs. Her exceptional play also earned her countless accolades, including two Mountain West Co-Player of the Year honors in three seasons. After 2024, she also earned a spot on the All-Mountain West First Team. Barbara was the first player in SDSU history to make an All-Region team three times when she was selected to the NFCA All-West Region First Team in 2024.

Now in Aggieland, Barbara is looking forward to the upcoming season.

“The culture here is that everything's very fast-paced, and they teach you how to play under pressure,” Barbara said. “When you get into games, it prepares you for those high-pressure situations, which I do appreciate, but it's a little bit of a nut-job situation for me because I'm not somebody that likes to be under pressure.

“I'm more of a calm, cool, collected type of person, but if you put me under pressure, I start to freak out. I'm like, ‘OK, what's going on?’ and I need to take a step back. I appreciate them (applying that pressure) because I feel more prepared for this upcoming season.”

C Olivia Johnson - Senior from Pearland, TX - Washington

Known by the nickname “Ojo,” Johnson is an exceptional designated player and catcher from the University of Washington. Returning to her home state, she brings an elite defensive presence and leadership to the team and will be a key piece of the Aggies' defense in 2025.

At Dawson High School, Johnson established herself by hitting a .399 and slugging over .700 in her junior and senior campaigns. She earned Newcomer of the Year as a freshman and All-District first team.

Despite her success in the Lone Star State, Johnson spent the first two years of her college career as a Washington Husky. In her first season, she received many accolades, including Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, NFCA All-Region Second Team, NFCA National Player of the Week and Pac-12 Freshman of the Week. She led Washington freshmen with a .261 batting average and had 11 home runs in 50 games with 47 starts.

As a sophomore, she appeared in 43 games and started 34. She had a .207 batting average, four home runs with 19 RBIs and drew 23 walks.

Johnson's transfer from Washington to A&M represents a bold new step in her collegiate career. With a solid foundation built in Seattle, she brings skills and experience to a powerhouse program in College Station. Her contributions are expected to strengthen the Aggies’ roster, as Johnson is indeed one to watch in 2025.

RHP Grace Sparks - Junior from Dayton, TX - Ole Miss

A junior right-handed pitcher from Ole Miss, Sparks is known for her competitive edge and strong arm. She brings SEC knowledge and experience to A&M’s staff. With her ability to control the game, she is projected to make an immediate impact in the circle.

The native Texan is a product of Crosby High School, where she was ranked the 30th overall prospect nationally and 11th among pitchers by Extra Inning Softball. Sparks was named the 21-5A Pitcher of the Year and was a three-time captain and two-time team MVP with a 1.27 ERA and 199 strikeouts in 143 innings in 2021. She did all that while competing in volleyball and being an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Future Farmers of America.

Similarly to Barbara, Sparks began her college career in Oxford. In 2023, she appeared in 22 games with seven starts. She posted a 4-4 record with a 3.04 ERA in 48.1 innings pitched.

As a sophomore, she made 19 appearances with 13 starts and led the pitching staff with a 2.14 ERA in 78.1 innings and owned a 9-3 record with 56 strikeouts. During both her freshman and sophomore seasons, she helped Ole Miss make back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances.

Sparks is already establishing herself as a reliable starter and a key contributor to Ford’s rotation.

“There's no place like the 12th Man,” Sparks said. “It's extremely rare to see such an impactful community like this one, but it's the reason why we do what we do and why we love it so much. The 12th Man would be nothing without the community.”

RHP Sidne Peters - Sophomore from Sante Fe, TX - Washington

After a great year at Washington, Peters comes back to her home state after developing her skills and honing in on her craft.

In high school, she played her club ball for Impact Gold Jackson and was the 10th-ranked player by Extra Innings Softball. Additionally, Peters was on the Extra Innings All-Summer team. At Santa Fe High School, she was named First-Team All-District in 2022 and was the team MVP. She held a 0.80 ERA with a 23-5 record, a save and 290 strikeouts. At the plate, she batted .406 and claimed 43 RBIs and 10 home runs. She also received 22-5A District MVP and Galveston County Player of the Year.

At Washington, she took part in 26 games, starting five times. With an 8-1 record and 3.35 ERA in 62.2 innings and 70 strikeouts, Peters proved her place. She held opponents to a .185 average and posted a team-best 2.15 ERA in conference play with a 5-0 record. She was 36th in the nation and second in the Pac-12 en route to the all-conference freshman team.

Peters brings well-rounded pitching expertise to Aggieland. Peters' ability to control games and perform in high-pressure situations will be invaluable for Texas A&M, particularly as the Aggies look to make a deep run in conference play and the postseason.