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Gavin Kilen listed on Tennessee's availability report ahead of Alabama series

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•about 13 hours•

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Tennessee second baseman Gavin Kilen. Credit: UT Athletics
Tennessee second baseman Gavin Kilen. Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee baseball listed two players as OUT and one questionable on the Wednesday student-athlete availability report ahead of the Vols’ weekend series at No. 12 Alabama beginning on Thursday at 7:30 pm ET.

Junior second baseman Gavin Kilen (questionable) had some contact on a play at the second base bag towards the end of Tuesday’s game with ETSU and was seen limping after the contest. He finished the game for Tennessee in the 10-inning affair, homering earlier in the contest. Kilen leads the Vols with 10 home runs, 25 runs batted in and a .431 batting average.

Junior right-handed pitcher AJ Russell was listed as OUT as he continues working back from offseason Tommy John surgery. The potential first-rounder made his initial return on February 26, making the midweek one-inning start against North Alabama with a clean 1-2-3 frame.  

“It was a deal where AJ’s an abnormal kid and he got ahead of that program quicker than the average guy,” skipper Tony Vitello said of Russell two weeks ago. “So, I think it’s time for everybody that’s involved to take a deep breath, have a conversation and say, ‘he showed what he can do’. We feel good about the throwing program and the protocol, but let’s take a deep breath and look out for the long run of what we’re trying to do with our season and his career combined.”

Transfer Alberto Osuna, who is still fighting for his eligibility this season, is also listed as OUT and will not be available this weekend.

Alabama listed infielder Garrett Staton as questionable and right-handed pitcher JT Blackwood as probable.

Tennessee dropped its first contest of the season on Tuesday night when it fell 7-6 to East Tennessee State. Prior to the loss, the Vols had won 22-straight games dating back to the end of the 2024 season. The 20-0 start to the year was the best start in program history.

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