Ace Drew Beam to channel his inner quarterback for Vols in 2024

It remains to be seen whether Tennessee junior right-handed starter Drew Beam will get the ball for the Vols on Friday nights this season. Regardless, the former signal-caller nicknamed ‘QB1’ is Tennessee’s leader this spring and has loads of experience to fall back on.

“I’m one of the older and more experienced guys on our staff this year. That whole aspect changes after being surrounded the last couple of years by guys like Redmond Walsh, Camden Sewell and [Chase] Dollander last year,” Beam told Volquest. “Those guys had a lot more experience than I did and I could pick and feed off of them and learn some things from them every single day. Now, I’m trying to be the guy for the younger cats on the team this year.”

As a sophomore last year, Beam made every weekly start (17), going 9-4 over 84.1 innings pitched with an ERA of 3.63. The righty struck out 88 batters, walked 23 and threw one seven inning complete game. His three postseason starts were stellar, combining for 17.2 inning pitched of four-run baseball where he allowed 17 hits with 26 strikeouts and only three walks. He was also named the SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week on May 23.

AJ Russell is expected to move into the rotation alongside the veteran this season after picking up Freshman All-American honors in 2023. Jury is still out on who could log starts for the final weekend slot, but Tennessee is not short on options.

The question is, does Tennessee bump Beam from Sunday – where he’s logged the majority of his 32 career starts – to Friday nights? Or maybe even to game two on Saturdays? It would make sense, given he’s the veteran ace with plenty of accolades throughout his career, but keeping Beam on Sundays to potentially win, sweep or salvage series has its benefits.

Whatever Tony Vitello and Frank Anderosn decide to do with Beam, he’ll be ready to adapt.

“I think the biggest turn or really change in anything would be timing of the day. Most Sunday games, we are playing that noon or 1 o’clock start, so it’s a pregame breakfast and then you’re playing,” the pitcher answered when asked the differences on pitching earlier in the series. “I think the biggest thing is how Friday and Saturday games are usually night games, so daily routine would change if it came to that. So, that would be a little bit of a learning curve, but I’ve seen other guys do it, so it shouldn’t be too hard to adjust to.

“During the day it’s a lot hotter. Early season, it’s definitely a lot colder during night games. Sometimes that sun can save you even if it’s 30 degrees out there – just having that sun hitting you feels really nice. So, subtle adjustments on stuff like that. The game plan of how we attack, how I’m going to go after hitters and stuff, that won’t change regardless of the day I’m throwing on.”

The former Blackman quarterback was also named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team this past summer, becoming the first player in program history to be invited to the showcase multiple times since VFL J.P. Arencibia back in 2005 and 2006. Beam has been working hard since leaving Omaha, hoping for a repeat trip to end his collegiate career.

“The big emphasis this offseason was to get more in depth into the weight room and work on the diet,” the veteran said. “Pitching wise, trying to really nail down the cutter. Had it last year but kind of went away from it, so we added it back in and really just refining it. Really just trying to perfect my game, perfect the craft of pitching and dial down the little things. Not trying to change too much but get good at the little things.”

As Beam has been hard at work on himself, he’s also been one of the key leaders in the clubhouse over the fall and winter. There’s plenty of star power on this roster with guys like Christian Moore and transfers Billy Amick and Cannon Peebles – but for Tennessee to reach its goals, they will once again have to come together. Beam is helping to lead in that charge as Opening Day approaches.

“Right now, we are playing each other every single day. It’s constant competition against each other,” the pitcher concluded. “But here in a few weeks, we will dial in and start going as one whole team where every single player is pulling one rope instead of pulling against each other. It will be that aspect of once we get on that flight to go to Texas, it’s time to be ne unit, get together and have one goal in mind – to win ballgames.”

Tennessee is a preseason ranked Top-10 team and has reached as high as No. 5 in the polls by the NCBWA. And thanks to a bevy of hurlers over the past few seasons, the Vols have remained in the spotlight as one of the nation’s best programs. With Beam leading the way in 2024, don’t look for Tennessee to lose pace.