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WATCH: Tony Vitello and players breakdown the start of preseason diamond work

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•01/25/24•

_Cainer

Tony Vitello
Credit: Volquest

Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello, Blake Burke and AJ Russell met with members of the local media Thursday morning to kick off the official start of in-season practice, which is set to begin on Friday.

The Vols enter the season as the No. 9 team in the preseason rankings, according to D1 Baseball. Perfect Game previously tabbed Tennessee at No. 11 in their preseason rankings two weeks ago. Tennessee is coming off an electric 44-22 season, 16-14 mark in Southeastern Conference play, where it ended in Omaha for the College World Series for the second time in the past three seasons.    

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 lefty 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.

Vitello will have an influx of freshmen at his disposal this season as well, a group that ranked very highly around the country. According to Perfect Game, Tennessee boasts the fourth-best 2023 signing class with one player (LHP Matthew Dallas) ranking in the Top-100 at No. 97 and eight players total inside the top-300. Other notables in the class who could see some action for the Vols in the spring include Cole Eaton (RHP/OF, No. 121), Dean Curley (INF, No. 129), Ariel Antigua (INF, No. 137), Blake Grimmer (INF, No. 148), Brayden Sharp (LHP/OF, No. 207), Derek Schaefer (RHP, No. 223) and Stone Lawless (C, No. 244).

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

D1 Baseball – No. 9

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)

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

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

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