Vols just outside the Top-10 in Perfect Game Preseason Rankings
With just over 40 days until the Tennessee throws out the first pitch for the 2024 campaign, Perfect Game has unveiled its preseason rankings with the Vols checking in at No. 11.
Tennessee is the sixth-highest team ranked from the Southeastern Conference, according to the publication, behind Arkansas, LSU and Florida – who were tabbed No. 2 through No. 4 – along with Vanderbilt and Texas A&M at six and seven. Other teams making up the top-10 include Wake Forest in the top-spot, TCU at No. 5 to go along with Texas, Oregon State and Virginia at No. 8-10.
.@PGCollegeBall 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝟐𝟓 📈https://t.co/8bkuJQR7fQ pic.twitter.com/dB87eOCyjd
— Perfect Game USA (@PerfectGameUSA) January 5, 2024
The Vols are coming off another thrilling season that ended in Omaha for the College World Series this past summer – the second time that’s happened in the past three seasons. Tennessee snapped a six-game losing skid dating back to 2001 at the CWS with a come-from-behind 6-4 victory over Stanford on the brink of elimination. It won in both regional play against Clemson and supers against Southern Miss in come-from-behind fashion again to help punch their ticket.
It didn’t start out pretty, though. The Vols struggled to begin conference play in 2023, going just 5-10 before (what started it all) fighting back to down No. 2 Vanderbilt in extra innings in game one of a critical three-game April series. Tennessee went from losing four of its first five conference series to winning four of five to close out the league slate. The back-to-back solo home runs of Kavares Tears and Dylan Dreiling in the ninth and the walk off home run from Griffin Merritt in the bottom of the 12th changed the season for the Big Orange.
The Vols were active in the transfer portal following the season’s end, bringing in five of D1 Baseball’s Top-130 transfers in catcher Cannon Peebles (No. 5), third baseman Billy Amick (No. 7), right-handed pitcher Nate Snead (No. 18), utility Dalton Bargo (No. 41) and right-handed pitcher AJ Causey (No. 72). Tennessee also earned a commit from left Chris Stamos (Cal) and former Wofford slugger Ryan Galanie, but the latter elected to sign with the White Sox after being selected in the 13th round.
Tennessee will have to make up some production lost from the 2023 roster this spring, including the likes of Chase Dollander (draft), Chase Burns (transfer), Maui Ahuna (draft), Andrew Lindsey (draft), Griffin Merritt and more.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Oklahoma nabs OC
Sooners tab Ben Arbuckle as OC
- 2
Sam Pittman
Will return to Arkansas as head coach
- 3New
CBB Top 25
AP Poll shake up after Feast Week
- 4Hot
Harsin wears Bama gear
Former Auburn HC sports LANK shirt
- 5
BCS formula predicts CFP
Predicting the College Football Playoff Top 25
Earlier this week, Perfect Game tabbed Tennessee pitcher Drew Beam and infielders Billy Amick and Christian Moore as preseason All-Americans.
Tennessee begins the 2024 campaign at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX on the weekend of Feb. 16-18. The Vols are slated to play Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Baylor over that weekend.
Vols in the Preseason Polls
Perfect Game – No. 11
Preseason accolades for Vols
RHP Drew Beam: 2nd Team All-American (Perfect Game), Top-100 MLB Draft Prospects (D1 Baseball)
INF Billy Amick: 2nd Team All-American (Perfect Game), No. 7 Transfer (D1 Baseball), Top-100 MLB Draft Prospects (D1 Baseball)
INF Christian Moore: 3rd Team All-American (Perfect Game), Top-100 MLB Draft Prospects (D1 Baseball)
