Tennessee baseball commit Kai Bratton details his Big Orange decision

Last week, 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-handed pitcher Kai Bratton made his pledge to the Tennessee baseball program after returning home from an official visit weekend that was headlined by the Tennessee football team knocking off Alabama on the gridiron.

“Honestly, the last few days have been kind of surreal. This is everything I’ve been working for since I was a little kid,” Bratton told Volquest. “Growing up, you want to play in the SEC – the biggest conference and the best conference in college baseball. I wanted to work in order to play in the SEC and Tennessee is beautiful. Knoxville is beautiful and that coaching staff was like you are not going to be able to go anywhere else and be as successful as you will be when you get there.”

The hurler is tabbed as the No. 269 overall player in the 2026 class, according to Perfect Game and a top-70 right-handed pitcher. Bratton chose Tennessee over other power conference programs such as Ole Miss, Oklahoma State and Arizona State.

He’s hit up to 92 miles per hour and possesses a plus-slider that sets him apart from the field.

“The slider just sets me apart. I still think I need to work on it a lot more, but that’s probably my best pitch right now other than my fastball with some ride to it, with some run,” Bratton said. “I have a good sinker and I also have a good changeup, which drops out for lefties and then a good sinker that runs even hot up for lefties. “You can set me apart from others with my slider. If people come to my games, they see another person’s slider, and then they see my slider, like that’s different.

“I’ve just been working on it day after day after day, basically just making it better and better on top of that. Same with the fastball, same with the mechanics, it’s just different.”  

At the time of his commitment, Bratton detailed his thoughts on Instagram.  

“I am extremely thankful for this opportunity and look forward to the next chapter of my baseball journey,” the commit wrote. “I am grateful to Coach Vitello, Coach Elander, Coach Anderson, Coach Bonfield and Coach Reynolds for this amazing opportunity.”

100% Committed, very thankful for everyone who has helped me along the way. GO VOLS!! 🍊 pic.twitter.com/DBy0QwWOTd

— Kai bratton (@Kaibratton2026) October 23, 2024

Tennessee currently boasts the second-best 2026 recruiting class in the country, according to Perfect Game, as Bratton’s commitment marked the 15^th pledge of the group. A few days prior to his announcement, Oak Ridge standout Michael Teasley committed as well. Bratton, Teasley and Cooper Shrum comprise the three right-handed pitchers in the class thus far.  

According to the publication, the Vols sport six trop-100 commitments in the class.

One of the main reasons why Tennessee was the winner in the end was because of the connection he felt with the Tennessee coaching staff. Not just Tony Vitello, but his entire cast of characters.

“I love how all the coaches are player coaches. They know how to connect with their payers and they love hanging outside of baseball. All talk as friends and all make jokes and laugh with one another,” the pitcher said of Tennessee’s staff. “Coach [Frank] Anderson is a pitching guy. He knows how to lock in and he knows his stuff – he’s so good. But he likes to have jokes and have fun. Coach [Ross] Kivett is always making jokes.

“It’s a different feeling if you feel like you can connect with these coaches. Coach Vitello, I want to play for someone who has that type of energy. I know he is ride or die for me when I’m on that mound. You want to play for a coach that belies in you and knows you’re going to be successful.”