Drew Beam leads trio of Vols named Preseason All-SEC

Along with the predicted order of finish for the 2024 Southeastern Conference baseball season – that was announced on Thursday – the preseason all-conference squads were also unveiled.  

Voted on by the league’s 14 head coaches, Tennessee placed three on the preseason All-SEC teams. Starting pitcher Drew Beam was named to the first team while second baseman Christian Moore and transfer third baseman Billy Amick were tabbed to the second team.

Tennessee was predicted to finish second in the SEC East, behind Florida, with a pair of first-place votes. Arkansas was the preseason pick to win the conference, racking up an impressive nine votes ahead of the campaign.

Preseason All-SEC Vols ⬇️@drewbeam_ @Moore10Chris @billyamick pic.twitter.com/95XCZ3ukX5

— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 8, 2024

Beam made every weekly start in 2023 (17), going 9-4 over 84.1 innings pitched with an ERA of 3.63. The right-hander 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.

The former Blackman quarterback was also named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, 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 was also listed at second for ‘Best Changeup’ and ‘Best Command’ amongst Baseball America pitching superlatives earlier this week.

The presumed ace of the 2024 Tennessee baseball team has accumulated a 15-5 career record over 33 appearances with 32 starts. The righty has combined for 160.1 innings pitched with a 3.20 ERA and 150 strikeouts to 44 walks. Beam has picked up first-team preseason All-American honors from Baseball American and the NCBWA this preseason, along with second team nods from D1 Baseball and Perfect Game. He’s also been named a part of the MLB Top-100 draft prospects by D1 Baseball.

Moore, who was also named to the Stars & Stripes Collegiate National Team this past summer, hit .304 as a sophomore for Tennessee in 2023, finishing second on the team with 17 home runs and 50 RBI. The second baseman led the squad with a .444 on-base percentage, 16 stolen bases and 66 runs scored. He was Tennessee’s best hitter against left-handed pitching with an average well north of .320 and his postseason production was solid as he delivered a key two-run single in a [historic] win over Stanford in the College World Series and registered a 7-for-10 clip in the Clemson Regional.

Moore has also added some preseason hardware over the past few weeks as he was named a third-team All-American by D1 Baseball, Perfect Game, Baseball America and the NCBWA – along with being a part of the MLB Top-100 draft prospects from D1 Baseball.  

Over the course of a breakout sophomore campaign in 2023 with Clemson, Amick racked up All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA and Perfect Game after leading the Tigers with a .413 batting average, 17 doubles, .464 on-base percentage and a .772 slugging percentage. He was second on the squad with 13 home runs and 63 RBI and committed only three errors defensively.

First Team All-SEC (Coaches)

C: Cole Messina	South Carolina
1B: Jac Caglianone	Florida
2B: Cade Kurland	Florida
3B: Tommy White	LSU
SS: Colby Shelton	Florida
OF: Jace LaViolette	Texas A&M
OF: Ethan Petry	South Carolina
OF: Kendall Diggs	Arkansas
DH/UTL: Ike Irish	Auburn
SP: Hagen Smith	Arkansas
SP: Drew Beam	Tennessee
RP: Brandon Neely	Florida

Second Team All-SEC (Coaches)

C: Devin Burkes	Kentucky
1B: Charlie Condon	Georgia
2B: Christian Moore	Tennessee
3B: Billy Amick	Tennessee
SS: Jonathan Vastine	Vanderbilt
OF: Braden Montgomery	Texas A&M
OF: Dakota Jordan	Mississippi State
OF: Bobby Peirce	Auburn
DH/UTL: Hayden Travinski	LSU
SP: Jac Caglianone	Florida
SP: Carter Holton	Vanderbilt
RP: Alton Davis II	Alabama

Vols in the Preseason Polls

NCBWA – No. 5

USA Today Coaches Poll – No. 8

Baseball America – No. 8

D1 Baseball – No. 9

Perfect Game – No. 11

*Tennessee was picked to finish second in the SEC East in 2024, voted on by the league’s 14 head coaches.

Preseason accolades for Vols

RHP Drew Beam: 1st Team All-American (Baseball America, NCBWA), 2nd Team All-American (D1 Baseball, Perfect Game), Top-100 MLB Draft Prospects (D1 Baseball), 1st Team All-SEC

INF Billy Amick: 2nd Team All-American (D1 Baseball, Perfect Game, NCBWA), 3rd Team All-American (Baseball America), No. 7 Transfer (D1 Baseball), Top-100 MLB Draft Prospects (D1 Baseball), 2nd Team All-SEC

INF Christian Moore: 3rd Team All-American (D1 Baseball, Perfect Game, Baseball America, NCBWA), Top-100 MLB Draft Prospects (D1 Baseball), 2nd Team All-SEC

INF Blake Burke: 2nd Team All-American (Baseball America)

RHP AJ Russell: 2nd Team All-American (NCBWA)

Tennessee named the No. 3 Transfer Portal Class (D1 Baseball)

Tennessee named the No. 11 Freshmen Class (D1 Baseball)