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Tennessee’s Cannon Peebles ‘sore,’ limited to begin preseason practices

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•01/29/25•

_Cainer

Cannon Peebles
Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee baseball junior catcher Cannon Peebles has been limited to begin preseason workouts with what coach Tony Vitello describes as soreness that stems from illness. Still, it appears the switch-hitter is making good progress.

“He’s looked good. He got sick, and then because he missed some days, came back like a ball of fire, as he always does, and probably tried to do a little too much,” Vitello said Wednesday while meeting with the media. “So, was sore. Throwing, swinging type deal.

Peebles has been in the lineup through the first week of intrasquad scrimmages but has not seen action behind the plate.

“Gets with Woody [Director of Sports Medicine Jeff Wodd], and he’s doing his protocol. And then now I’m the bad guy, because I want to peak in May or June, not earlier in the year. So, we’ve held him out of some things,” Vitello continued. “I think he’s really worked hard behind the scenes, and he always has a sense of urgency, like Drew (Gilbert) or Jordan Beck or some of these other guys that have been really fun to coach. Connor Pavolony at that position.   

“It’s fun when you got to tame the guy down. And I don’t mind him giving me some grief if we’re trying to do that, as opposed to trying to light a fire. But he’s got a sense of urgency at all times to him.”

The switch-hitter was in the scrimmage lineup on Monday and Tuesday of this week. He sent a three-run home run over the left-centerfield wall off reliever Andrew Behnke on Monday, acting as his squad’s designated hitter on both days. So, the fact that he’s hitting – and being productive as well – is a good sign.

Peebles projects to be the team’s starting catcher in 2025. Vitello did not confirm that Peebles would be at full-strength by Opening Day on February 14 (16 days away) but said he’s been plenty active since arriving back on campus.

“He’s got a lot of experience behind the scenes too, like Reese [Chapman], and that sense of urgency is a little more under control,” the skipper concluded. “Everything is a little bit, you know, just more mature for brevity’s sake, and that’s crucial to be in a leadership position like he’s going to be, not just on the field catching, but just in the locker room with his presence.”

The former NC State standout, who transferred to Tennessee prior to the 2024 season, was expected to be a key cog in the middle of the order for the Vols last year. Despite getting the Opening Day start, Peebles struggled out of the gate and managed to contribute a .216 average over 116 at-bats with two home runs, 24 runs batted in, 30 runs scored and 30 walks. He was a frequent DH in the order towards the end of the national championship season for the Vols.

As a NCBWA first team Freshman All-American and member of the All-ACC Freshman Team, Peebles led the Wolfpack with a .352 batting average, .697 slugging percentage and .456 on-base percentage as a freshman in 2023. He tied for the team-high of 50 RBI and was second with 12 home runs over just 142 at-bats before transferring to Tennessee.

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