Tony Vitello provides update on eligibility of Maui Ahuna, inactive status

The Tennessee baseball team has designs on Omaha, but one of the team’s prized offseason acquisitions, Kansas transfer Maui Ahuna, was inactive for the team’s season opener as he awaits eligibility clearance.

Coach Tony Vitello spoke recently about his knowledge and when he found out Ahuna wouldn’t play in the season opener against Arizona.

“Specifically for me it was I’d say close to about 24 hours before first pitch when we were in Arizona,” Vitello said. “There had been some things that alluded to that a little bit.”

The talented infielder didn’t suit up for the Volunteers and there’s no clear timeline for when he might gain clearance.

“No, I don’t have a specific update,” Vitello said. “I know professionals from different entities are working on it, which makes me feel as good as I can and hopefully him as good as he can about it. People that are way more professional than me, and a lot of people that are looking out for the kid’s sole interest. Hopefully an update soon, but I don’t have anything specific now.”

Ahuni had already inked NIL deals with Tennessee businesses prior to the season beginning, so he’s kind of a big deal.

But when the Volunteers might have him available remains a mystery. For his part, Maui Ahuna seems to be handling the inactive setback well. Vitello praised him for that and also hinted at a family issue Ahuna has had to deal with as impacting him.

“Like a champ. Like a danged champ,” Vitello said. “He’s been really good about getting extra work in here and on the field because he knows he’s not going to be burning a bunch of calories out there. he’s been Jazzy’s No. 1 fan next to him in warmups. If you guys are here in time you kind of see what he’s doing there, and then he’s just a fun-loving kid in general.

“Then I thought his family handled it as well as they could this past weekend. I don’t know if that’s right for me to speak on. Maybe if you guys talk to them. He’s kind of got something else going on, too, with family stuff. So it would be nice if everybody would get healthy and we could continue to enjoy being around him.”

Ahuna, a shortstop, checks in at No. 22 on MLB Pipeline’s top draft prospects after starting every game as a freshman and sophomore in Lawrence. Batting .396 in 2022, he hit eight home runs, 48 RBI and 13 stolen bases while leading the ballclub in average, on-base percentage (.479), slugging percentage (.634), hits (80), triples (4), walks (28) and stolen bags. The new Volunteer spent his sophomore summer with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.