Tennessee OF Hunter Ensley announces decision to return for 2025 season

Tennessee outfielder Hunter Ensley is eligible for the 2024 MLB Draft, but he made it clear on Tuesday that he isn’t going anywhere yet.

Ensley has announced that he will return to Tennessee for the 2025 season after helping the Vols to a national title last month.

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“Vol Nation, let’s run it back,” Hunter Ensley posted as part of a video on Twitter.

Ensley hit .296 with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs this past season. One of his home runs came in Game 1 of the College World Series finals against Texas A&M.

Ensley is a Tennessee native who was ranked as the No. 292 player in the country by Perfect Game coming out of high school. He received a medical redshirt in 2021 and appeared in only 13 games in 2022.

However, he was a big part of Tennessee’s success in both 2023 and 2024.

In 2023, Hunter Ensley appeared in 59 games, making 50 starts. He hit .280 with seven home runs, seven doubles and 31 RBIs that season, helping the Vols reach the College World Series.

This past season, Ensley appeared in 68 games, making 60 starts. He played a key role in Tennessee winning its first baseball national title in school history.

Former Niagara first baseman Eric Rataczak committed to Tennessee

The good news for Tennessee doesn’t stop with Hunter Ensley. The Vols also picked up a big-time commitment on Monday.

Former Niagara first baseman Eric Rataczak officially committed to Tennessee earlier this week.

“I am excited to announce my commitment to the University of Tennessee! Can’t wait to get to work with all the @Vol_Baseball staff, thank you to them for the wonderful opportunity,” Rataczak tweeted on Monday.

“Thanks to my parents for their endless support in the pursuit of my dreams. I love you guys.”

Rataczak has had a fascinating ascension up the college baseball ranks, playing high school baseball at Torino-Grace High School in Fridley, Minnesota where he received zero scholarship offers. He decided to attend the University of San Diego where he played club baseball for a year before being diagnosed Type 1 diabetes.

He spent one year away from baseball before returning to the JUCO baseball ranks, spending time at Wabash Valley College and Arizona Western Community College where he posted a .314 batting average with 11 RBIs before returning back to San Diego to play club baseball again.

Last summer, Rataczak finally got some attention while playing in the Western Canadian League for the Brooks Bombers. He received a scholarship offer from Niagra and delivered one of the best seasons in program history in 2024. He led the MAAC in batting average, OPS, RBI, and on base percentage, along with setting new program records for single season runs, hits, home runs, and RBIs to earn MAAC Player of the Year and a unanimous selection to the MAAC First-Team.

Rataczak batted .396 with 17 homers and 91 RBIs last season for Niagara with 88 hits, 59 runs, and a .698 slugging percentage.