Tennessee freshman Levi Clark ‘stays ready’ for the call

One would think Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello’s job is easy considering all the pieces he has at his disposal in a given game. There’s only nine slots on the lineup card, but it’s like he can’t go wrong with who he starts on a given day.

At least that’s the feeling for now. Sure, the schedule is going to get tougher as the year goes along. Next weekend in Houston will be a great challenge – but Samford is pretty good in its own right. There’s just so many players who deserve to get at-bats every game.

Unfortunately, only nine can play at a time and deserving players are forced to watch. The good ones, however, stay ready to go if not in the lineup.

“Coach V [Tony Vitello] told me to be ready. I didn’t really know when,” freshman Levi Clark smiled postgame. “I came in bases loaded, one out. Just trying to do it for the guy next to you and not [have] a selfish AB [at-bat], especially 3-1. Make him throw a pitch right where you want it and hit it.”

Levi Clark was ready on Saturday.

The Vols trialed throughout game two of the series, but Tennessee tied the contest for the second time in the seventh. Then, it was the bottom of the eighth inning with the game still knotted at 3-3. Clark got the call to pinch hit for Ariel Antigua with the bases loaded.

You know the rest. The freshman touched them all in grand fashion.

“You want to have good presence and not get over zealous in that situation. The crowd can work to your benefit, which in that occasion I think it did,” Vitello said after the win of Clark’s at-bat. “But I’ve also been around guys too, [when] our crowd gets so into the game (that) sometimes you can use that adrenaline in the wrong way. He just did a great job of staying composed would be my one main point. And you don’t want to overthink the situation.   

“I think Levi just looked like he had a simple approach there and he’s so strong and talented – and of course he works hard too – that it ended up being a pretty explosive cap on the game really.”

Game on the line. Got it DONE. pic.twitter.com/kmijIfUSDc

— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 23, 2025

Clark has played in five of the first six games of the season. He’s started three of the games, however, which means he has come off the bench the rest of the time. In doing so, he’s registered six hits over 12 at-bats (.500) with two home runs, 12 runs batted in, seven runs scored, two doubles and three walks.

So, how does a player stay locked in? How does a true freshman, standing in the dugout for only his sixth collegiate contest of his young career, stay focused and ready? Plus, it’s not like it was 70 degrees on Saturday in Knoxville so you’re literally trying to ‘stay hot’ anyway.

“Just focusing on the pitcher to see what he has and what his tendencies are. Be locked into the game and think about whatever the team needs the most,” Clark said. “Jump roping throughout the innings. The heaters in there [dugout] do a lot of the work, but just moving your body around no matter what. Just staying ready.”

Clark is going to be a great college baseball player. He turned down immediate professional opportunities because he wanted to be at Tennessee. Heck, Perfect Game had him rated as the No. 36 player in the 2024 cycle and as the second-best player out of Georgia. He’s already making the most of his opportunities on Rocky Top and more opportunities are sure to follow. The dude can flat out rake.   

“Tennessee is the place you want to be right now,” Clark said. “The coaches here are amazing and they are the ones that take you to the next level and get you prepared.”

We’ll see if Clark cracks the starting lineup in Sunday’s series-finale against Samford. One would assume he would given his massive hit the day before. But regardless, Clark is going to play a role for the Vols this season and it’s going to be fun to watch.