Tennessee shortstop Austen Jaslove enters NCAA transfer portal
Tennessee redshirt-sophomore Austen Jaslove of nearby Christian Academy of Knoxville has entered the transfer portal following a three-year stint with the program. Volquest confirmed the news with a Tennessee spokesman Wednesday afternoon.
Jaslove began the season as the Vols’ starting shortstop while transfer portal addition Maui Ahuna was dealing with eligibility issues. Starting the first eight games of the season, the middle infielder registered five hits and drove in six runs. He started an additional three games over the course of the season, ending the year with a .189 batting average and eight RBI.
The local standout redshirted as a true freshman in 2021 and did not see any action during the 2022 campaign.
Shortstop is one position that is of great question for 2024 as now rising-sophomore Jake Kendro is the top-returner. As a freshman, Kendro tallied seven hits over 32 at-bats for a .219 average with one home run and six RBI. Tennessee is set to bring in some talent from the high school ranks to compete for a starting job, a list that includes Dean Curley, Ariel Antigua and Blake Grimmer. Bradke Lohry will also be an option.
The transfer portal window opened on May 30 and remains open for 45 days until July 13. So far, the Vols have lost 12 players to the transfer portal as Jaslove joins a list that includes pitchers Chase Burns, Jake Fitzgibbons, Hollis Fanning, Jacob Bimbi, Shawn Scott, Turner Swistak, outfielder Alex Stanwich, infielders Logan Chambers and Tanner Zellem and catchers Ryan Miller and Payton Ebbing.
Last offseason, Tennessee was active in the transfer portal by adding key components to the roster who would go on to compete in the College World Series. Those players included shortstop Maui Ahuna, third baseman Zane Denton, outfielder Griffin Merritt and pitcher Andrew Lindsey.
Tennessee has added six players from the transfer portal thus far with AJ Causey, Nate Snead, Ryan Galanie (who plans to sign with the White Sox), Billy Amick, Dalton Bargo and Cannon Peebles.
