Roster Reset: A look at the evolving Tennessee baseball roster  

Updated June 26, 2005: This story will continue to be updated as the roster continues to evolve over the coming weeks.

The Tennessee baseball season is a little more than two weeks over and there’s already been a flurry of roster moves that have taken place for Tony Vitello’s club.

With the house settlement passing, baseball rosters are being shrunk down to 34 at full-scholarship. The transfer portal has been alive and well with several additions and there’s a loaded signing class ready to jump into the fray. There’s also been a slew of departures for the transfer portal and the Major League Baseball Draft is set for next month.

There’s much more to be determined, but here’s a look at where the Vols stand as of June 30 in terms of roster additions, departures, returners, signing class and draft risks.    

Portal Additions (9)

Tennessee has done a great job adding via the transfer portal to date. Tony Vitlello and staff have seven commitments at current standing and they aren’t done yet.

So far, the class is comprised of four right-handed pitchers, a utility player, a 2-way player and a first baseman/outfielder. The common theme here is versatility as players might be asked to do more with a 34-man roster.  

Right-handed pitcher Clay Edmondson (UNC Asheville) committed to Tennessee in April as a grad transfer. Righty Mason Estrada (MIT) committed to the Vols in May from Division III. Right-handed pitcher Bo Rhudy (Kennesaw State) pledged to the Volunteers just before super regionals and submarine righty Brady Frederick (ETSU) committed to Tennessee two days after the season.   

Garrett Wright (Bowling Green) committed to Tennessee 10 days ago after reeling in MAC Defensive Player of the Year honor as a catcher and outfielder. His Bowling Green teammate, DJ Newman, visited Tennessee this past weekend and committed on Sunday. He’s a right-handed pitcher and outfielder, a true 2-way talent. Henry Ford, an outfielder and first baseman and the top-ranked player (On3) in the portal, committed to Tennessee on Sunday as well.  

Tennessee is right in the thick of it for Rutgers right-handed starting pitcher Landon Mack. Arkansas, LSU and some ACC programs are also involved there. The Vols need an infielder and have hosted Cal transfer Jarren Advincula – another Arkansas/Tennessee/LSU battle. The Vols have hosted Rice 2-way player Blaine Brown (Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas Tech involved). The staff is actively evaluating options for a left-handed pitcher as well.   

Brown committed on Thursday and Mack committed to Tennessee on Monday, June 30. Advincula committed to Georgia Tech on Thursday.

Portal Departures (25)

The list is lengthy and could easily be viewed as worrisome from the average fan. But remember, rosters are being cut to 34 and this is happening all over the country – not just in Knoxville. There’s a lot of talented guys on this list as some will go on and play well elsewhere, but there were always going to be roster casualties.

There are some, as always (like Dylan Loy), that the staff didn’t want to lose but moved on for other opportunities.    

LHP Dylan Loy: 4-0, 3.97 ERA, 33 APP, 34.0 IP
LHP Bryson Thacker: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 APP
OF Colby Backus: .188, 7 R, 1 RBI, 21G
RHP Thomas Crabtree: 2-0, 3.00 ERA, 15 IP. 12 APP, 2 GS
RHP Austin Hunley: 2-0, 2.79 ERA, 9.2 IP, 12 APP
LHP/OF Brayden Sharp: 1-0, 6.75 ERA, 8.0 IP, 8 APP, 0-for-5, 2 R
LHP Andrew Behnke: 2-0, 5.11 ERA, 14 APP
RHP Austin Breedlove: 3-0, 3.42 ERA, 25 APP, 2 GS
LHP Michael Sharman: 3-1, 3.18 ERA, 17 APP, 3 GS
RHP Tanner Wiggins: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 APP
LHP Brayden May: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 APP
LHP Luke Payne: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 APP
RHP Ryan Combs (0-0, 7.36 ERA, 13 APP)
INF Robinson Martin: DNP
INF Jack Jones: DNP
LHP Ryler Smart: DNP
RHP Beau Revord: DNP
LHP Dane Bjorn: DNP
RHP Stratton Scott: DNP
RHP Andrew DuMont: DNP
INF Dane Morrow: DNP
C Brooks Wright: DNP
RHP Ben Martin: DNP
RHP Aiden Hayse: DNP
RHP Tate Strickland: DNP

Returners – Pitchers (4)

When you take into account the 16 pitchers who have entered the transfer portal, plus the pitchers who will be lost to the draft next month, the list isn’t too extensive. The staff isn’t done in the transfer portal and would love to add a left-handed arm. The signing class is also set to bring in several talented arms.

Also, of the 16 pitchers who have entered the transfer portal, 15 of them combined to throw only 7.1 innings of SEC play. The other was Dylan Loy, who led the league with 33 appearances on the season. So, it’s not as if you are losing a ton of proven arms that could have come back.

RHP Tegan Kuhns (2-4, 5.40 ERA, 15 APP)
RHP Brayden Krenzel (3-0, 4.68 ERA, 21 APP)
RHP Nic Abraham (1-0, 8.31 ERA, 6 APP)
RHP Anson Seibert (redshirted)

Of this group alone – of course there will be more – Kuhns, Krenzel and Seibert are weekend rotation options. There’s a lot to be exited about with that trio.

Returners – Position Players (10)

This section is working under the assumption that Cannon Peebles (C), Reese Chapman (OF) and Dalton Bargo (UTL) will be drafted, sign professional contracts and move on. All three have eligibility remaining and could be back in the fold next season, but for the purpose of this piece, we will move them aside.

Tennessee is also losing some valuable draft eligible players that played massive roles for the Vols in 2025. Still, the returning position players are in much better shape compared to the pitchers – numbers wise. There still could be movement. I would expect it, honestly.  

INF Ariel Antigua: .192, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 15 R
INF Manny Marin: .283, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 23 R
OF/MIF Jay Abernathy: .282, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 38 R, 8 SB
OF Chris Newstrom: .351, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 15 R
UTL Blake Grimmer: .318, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 14 R
UTL Hunter High: .333, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R
C/1B Stone Lawless: .288, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 17 R
1B/OF/C Levi Clark: .289, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 30 R
OF Jaxon Walker (redshirted)
OF Brennon Seigler (redshirted)

There’s a ton of talent here. Holding on to the ‘core four’ of Jay Abernathy, Manny Marin, Chris Newstrom and Levi Clark from the freshmen class was huge. That’s a great place to start building any team around.

Committed Class (24) + JUCO (2)

Tennessee’s 2025 signing class is the absolute best work Tony Vitello and his staff can show thus far. Now, several of the top-flight signees will go pro and take professional contracts. We’ll know for sure next month, but expect a few at minimum. There will also be some signees who don’t end up making it to campus or on the roster in spring – just like every year.

The Vols have the No. 2 recruiting class in the country, per Perfect Game. Seven Tennessee signees/commits are currently listed in MLB Pipeline’s Top 200 Draft Prospects abd eight rank inside Perfect Game’s Top 100. Holding on to guys like SS Billy Carlson, LHP Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP Cameron Appenzeller, SS Steele Hall and SS Ethan Moore is going to be tough. But when you stack solid class after solid class, you’re still going to end up with plenty of talent.  

It is worth noting that there’s growing optimism that one of the lefties – Schoolcraft, Appenzeller – could make it to campus. A few weeks ago, it was considered a near lock they were going pro. Now, there’s a chance and we will see wat happens.

Tennessee has earned the commitments of two junior college prospects as well in recent weeks in right-handed pitcher Matt Barr (SUNY Niagara) and INF Tyler Myatt (Walters State). The former is very much a draft risk as he appears inside the Top 200 MLB Pipeline Draft Prospects. Myatt, an East Tennessee native, is also a draft risk – though it’s more of a coin flip with his attention being on the Orange & White for now.  

Draft Risk Temperature

C Cannon Peebles – Burning Hot
UTL Dalton Bargo – Burning Hot
OF Reese Chapman – Burning Hot
***OF/1B Henry Ford – Warm
***RHP/OF DJ Newman – Cool
***RHP Mason Estrada – Warm
***RHP Clay Edmondson – Warm
**RHP Matt Barr – Hot
**UTL Tyler Myatt – Lukewarm
*INF Billy Carlson – Burning Hot
*LHP Kruz Schoolcraft – Warm
*LHP Cameron Appenzeller – Warm
*INF Steele Hall – Burning Hot
*C Trent Grindlinger – Cool
*INF Ethan Moore – Hot
*OF Nathan Eisfelder – Lukewarm
*1B Nathan Hankins – Warm
*OF Taylor Tracey – Lukewarm
*RHP Ethan Baiotto – Lukewarm

*** denotes transfer portal commit
** denotes junior college commit
* denotes high school commit/signee

INF Dean Curley – GONE
INF Gavin Kilen – GONE
RHP Nate Snead – GONE
INF Andrew Fischer – GONE
LHP Liam Doyle – GONE
RHP Marcus Phillips – GONE
LHP Brandon Arvidson – GONE
RHP AJ Russell – GONE
 RHP Tanner Franklin – GONE