Tennessee Baseball outfielder Hunter Ensley announces return for 2025 season
Hunter Ensley’s Tennessee Baseball career didn’t end with a national championship. Instead, the redshirt junior outfielder is coming back to the Vols in 2025 looking to help defend the title.
Ensley, who is MLB Draft eligible, announced on social media on Tuesday afternoon that he would be returning for another season in Knoxville.
“Staying home!” Ensley wrote. “Let’s run it back.”
Staying H🍊ME! Let’s run it back! @Vol_Baseball pic.twitter.com/28Vywyt1DY
— Hunter Ensley (@HunterEnsley) July 9, 2024
Ensley this season hit .296 with 12 home runs, 15 double and 48 RBI. He had a slugging percentage of .532, with 64 hits on the season and 45 runs scored.
His outfield defense, including the full-speed crash into the wall during the College World Series in Omaha, helped lead No. 1 Tennessee (60-13) to its first national championship in program history.
The Vols came back from down 1-0 in the best-of-three championship series against Texas A&M, beating the Aggies 6-5 in the decisive Game 3 on June 24 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
Ensley is the first player to announce his return. The Vols have been busy making other additions to the roster via the NCAA Transfer Portal.
On Monday Tennessee added Niagara first baseman Eric Rataczak, a left-handed power hitter and the MAAC Player of the Year.
He led the conference in batting average (.396), OPS, RBI (71) and on-base percentage (.485) and became the Niagra program record holder for single-season runs (59), hits (88), home runs (17) and 71 RBI to go along with 27 multi-hit games – including 13 three-hit contests.
Tennessee has added three commitments from NCAA Transfer Portal
The Vols also added Louisville infielder Gavin Kilen, one of the biggest names in the portal, and Kennesaw State pitcher Tanner Franklin, a Jefferson County, Tenn., native.
Kilen has two years of eligibility remaining and was one of the biggest names in the transfer portal. He finished the 2024 season with a .330 average, nine home runs, 41 runs batted in, 39 runs scored, 23 doubles and three triples.
He led Louisville in hits, doubles and total bases while his 23 doubles were tied for fifth-most in program history while starting 54 of his 56 games at shortstop this past spring.
Franklin pitched the last two seasons at Kennesaw State and has two years of eligibility remaining. Franklin went 4-1 with a 5.60 ERA over 21 appearances with one start this season.
The sophomore threw 27.1 innings with 43 strikeouts and 27 walks. He had five saves and held opposing batters to a .212 average. In 2023 as a true freshman, Franklin had an 8.18 ERA in 13 appearances with two starts and 11.0 innings pitched.
