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Tennessee Notes: Preseason Observations for Opening Day

The Tennessee Volunteers begin the quest of defending the program’s first-ever national championship on Friday. The Vols have to deal with losing some special talents to the 2024 MLB draft, but based on preseason observations, a fresh crop of new faces are making quite the impression during preseason. Here are my observations from the past three weekends, along with Tony Vitello’s opening remarks during his game week press conference.

Closing Thoughts, Opening Statements

Much of the Tennessee lineup – especially for Opening Weekend – centers around the status of Andrew Fischer and Cannon Peebles. Peebles has still been logging at-bats, with no observed defensive position during recent scrimmages. Fischer has been at first base without any plate appearances of late, based on usage the past two weekends.

Head coach Tony Vitello said in his Opening Week presser on Tuesday that Fischer and Peebles were “100%” available going into the Vols’ first game against Hofstra.

“Both those guys can throw and swing, but whether were going to ask those guys to play all nine innings for three days in a row – in non-ideal temperatures, that’s probably not going to happen,” he said.

The potential for transfer Alberto Osuna to be cleared is also a dynamic that Vitello will have to consider. During the presser, Vitello said, “As of now, I think he’s just waiting for clearance of getting eligible.”

One striking quality that Tennessee showcased in the ramp-up period is the amount of freshmen battling for certain roles. Jay Abernathy, Levi Clark and Manny Marin were obviously the darlings of the position players. But the presence and performance of other freshmen are very noteworthy.

Abernathy will likely start in left field and have a path toward 250-plus at-bats. He’s hit lead-off, fifth and ninth in observed scrimmages. Abernathy is a bonafide up-the-middle talent with quality hit tools. His athleticism will carve out at least an above-average grade in left field.

Newstrom, Walker and Seigler also had strong plate appearances the past few weeks. While the other aforementioned freshmen stole the show from this group, the latter definitely did not seem out of place. Seigler and Walker our local prep standouts. Seigler by way of Farragut High School and Walker from Loudon High School.

“We have a little more internal depth or competition than I originally thought we did with the position player stuff” Vitello said on Tuesday. “And I think a part of that is credited to the way the freshman came back from winter. There’s a couple that came back with a completely different vibe – in a good way.

“There’s a few guys that have created – I don’t want to say problems – but more discussion or debates up in the office. I think you may see three or four different guys standing over there at first this weekend. But that may be the case for several positions.”

As for pitching, Vitello announced that left-hander Liam Doyle would start Friday, followed by the righty Marcus Phillips on Saturday. Sunday’s starter is still to be determined.

The pitching order and rotation could be as fluid as the lineup. A mix of: Dylan Loy, Brandon Arvidson or freshman Tegan Kuhns are all in play for potentially starting this Sunday, or any other for that matter. Nate Snead is also an option, but it feels like the right-hander could open this season as he ended last. Snead logged 75 1/3 innings while starting just one game in 2024. He also earned six wins and 10 saves to the tune of a 3.11 ERA. While Snead definitely has starter potential, perhaps Tennessee wants to hold on to that kind of utility for now, while other spots shape up.

Michael Sharman, Tanner Franklin, Luke Payne, Andrew Behnke, Austin Hunley, Thomas Crabtree, Ryan Combs, Aiden Hayse and Tanner Wiggins likely round out a list of 15 arms once junior AJ Russell enters the fold. The talented right-hander is ramping up after recovering from the Internal Brace method of Tommy John Surgery. He’s facing some hitters but likely won’t make an official appearance for several weeks. Vitello has voiced the position of using extreme caution with many of his players returning from injury, going back previous seasons. This instance with Russell shouldn’t be excluded. Russell is destined for the first round of the MLB draft if he performs to his ability. He’ll play a vital role no matter what the rotation looks like in the coming months.

Below are notes and observations from the past three weekends of practice. Also listed is a projected Opening Day lineup and more information on Tennessee baseball content.

Weekend 1 – Day 2

Freshman Aiden Hayse and juco transfer Michael Sharman looked best from the pitching group on Day 2.

Chris Newstrom and Dalton Bargo played first base.

Ariel Antigua and Gavin Kilen played second

Andrew Fischer/ Manny Marin 3B

Jay Abernathy played CF for one squad.

Stone Lawless/ Levi Clark C

*Lawless recorded a CS

Fischer hit a laser home run. Competitive battles. Low scoring. Four innings and then truly situational, i.e. runner on third, 1 out to begin the frame.

Weekend 1Day 3

Snead vs Phillips, Combs vs Doyle

Snead: 2IP, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 2 K (2.1 IP)

Phillips: 2 IP, 3 K

Doyle: 2.2 IP 4K, 1 ER

Combs: 2+ IP 2K, HBP, BB      *Clark recorded a CS

Abernathy and Curley led off

Hunter High had a double

Manny Marin RBI single

Bargo Triple

Jaxon Walker home run

2-1 after 4IP , then went situational. Fielding was the biggest note of the weekend. Several turns were made cleanly. Marin was part of the two best plays all weekend. 

Weekend 2 – Saturday

Doyle vs Sharman, May vs Franklin, Combs vs Strickland

Players moved around even more this weekend with spots in the field and lineup. Antigua made ridiculously good plays from third. Ensley and Curley led off.

Peebles 2 -run triple

Abernathy 2B, SB

Grimmer HR

Bargo triple 

Chapman Double.

Franklin looked the best out of the arms. I think Michael Sharman grabs a vital spot. Levi Clark also sailed a throw over 2B on a stolen base play.

Another battle between squads. Score was 5-3 … they played several “normal” innings until Blake Grimmer hit the game-winning, or go-ahead HR off Tate Strickland.

Weekend 2Sunday

A pitcher’s duel ended in a 1-1 score. Snead tossed four innings and recorded five strikeouts to just one walk, and no extra base hits allowed. Marcus Phillips was also good from the mound. He recorded three strikeouts through three innings, while walking one batter. Like Snead, he didn’t surrender any XBH.

Austin Hunley, Luke Payne and Andrew Behnke also threw. Payne looked really good from the left side.

Newstrom had a double that put runners on second and third (Hunley) … Dalton Bargo recorded a sac-fly RBI with good depth to LF at the line. Abernathy threw Newstrom out at third and Hunley got out of the inning posthaste. 

Weekend 3 – Saturday

Several of the Vols’ freshmen shined the brightest on a mild, windy day at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Manny Marin went 2-for-4 on the day, driving in three runs via: a solo blast, a single and a fielder’s choice. Levi Clark also went 2-for-4 and punctuated the day by sending a no-doubter to left field, as the Orange team walked off White 11-9. The three-run shot was Clark’s second hit of the day. Clark also doubled and drew a walk batting from the clean-up spot.

Freshman Jay Abernathy collected two hits as well. He reached first via a bunt and then doubled in his next at-bat. Abernathy also continues to make plus-plays in left field.

Speaking of defense, Ariel Antigua made double-plus plays from shortstop. His sharpest snag of the game came in shallow left, when he tracked down a flare with two outs and runners in scoring position. Antigua was hitless on the day, but was able to draw a walk in his first plate appearance. Brennon Seigler and Chris Newsom drove in a run a piece via singles, while freshman Jaxon Walker had a two-run single in his final at-bat of the day.

The Orange team used six pitchers on the day. Tate Strickland started the day on the bump, but was pulled in the third after issuing his seventh walk. Aiden Hayse and Brayden Sharp also threw for the Orange team and were the most effective for that squad. 

Marcus Phillips started for White. The right-hander threw four innings of two-run ball. He surrendered a double (Clark) and a solo homer (Marin). Phillips recorded four strikeouts and zero walks.

Nate Snead followed Phillips for four frames. The righty gave up three runs on five hits and recorded two strikeouts. His last inning was 1-2-3 – with a couple of ground balls and a pop-up, respectively.

Andrew Behnke then entered the 9th. After inducing a grounder to third, Behnke then walked a couple of batters before Gavin Kilen hit a 2-run double. Clark then ended Game 2 with his three-run shot off of Behnke.

Weekend 3 – Sunday

Another tight battle, as the conventional innings ended in a 7-7 tie. Dylan Loy and Brandon Arvidson started the contest. Each pitched one inning. Loy escaped a bases loaded jam with a sac-fly and a strikeout. He recorded two singles and a walk in his only frame. Arvidson struck out three batters but allowed four runs and two walks. Nic Abraham tossed five innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Hunley tossed three scoreless frame after a three-run second inning. He allowed no free passes, while striking out two batters.

There were five home runs on the day. Newstrom led off with a blast, while Seigler followed suit in the top of the second inning. Jaxon Walker had a three-run shot in between. Dean Curley and Cannon Peebles also went yard.

Projected Opening Day Lineup for Tennessee:

Curley SS

Kilen 2B

Ensley CF

Fischer 3B

Peebles DH

Bargo 1B

Lawless C

Chapman RF

Abernathy LF

For more on the Vols opening the season, listen to The 920 Podcast with guest Dylan Loy from Tennessee Baseball.

Logan Quinton
Logan Quinton
Logan Quinton joined Baseball Prospect Journal in March 2023 as a College Baseball Writer focusing on the Tennessee Volunteers. Follow Quinton on Twitter @LDQsports.

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