2026 Vols Baseball

Let’s get it going because the staff is already turned to next season. They will get back from Fayetteville sometime today and then it’s an all hands on deck recruiting blitz.

Tony talked about it last night, how tough it was for them to recruit being in Omaha, (which, obviously, great problem to have) and how maybe the summer didn’t come to them like they hoped it would. I would recommend giving the whole thing a listen.

Draft is July 13 and we will see several of our incoming guys have their names called. Will probably see Tony on the coverage too.

Forgetting some names here but off the top of my head:

I think at least one of Bargo, Chapman and Pebbles will be back. Guess it will depend on if they can get their number in the draft or not.

Clark, Abernathy, Grimmer (R-Fr) and Newstrom all got some time as freshman, and that will obviously increase next year. Really excited for what Levi Clark can become with a whole offseason under Coach Q. Manny Marin might be the best of the whole group.

Ariel Antigua taking a step forward at the plate will be one I’m keeping an eye on and something I hope to see. Hunter High is a great kid and I’d love to seem him carve out a role for himself.

The pitcher I’m most excited for is Anson Seibert at 6-8 235. An absolute unit. He was probably the best pitcher in the class last year, but of course got to mention Kuhns and Krentzel.

Would love if Franklin and Arvidson return, but I have to think they will get drafted and sign.

Breedlove, Benke, Huntley and Combs all have eligibility.

We will see what happened with the other committed pitchers and the draft.

Feels like, as of right now, the staff will stay intact.

 

6'8 seems tall. Like Oldvol tall.

 

The two names to watch that we got committed in the transfer portal are Clayton Edmondson (UNC-A) and Mason Estrada (MIT). Both seem like they’ll be drafted so will have to watch that play out.

Matt Barr is committed from SUNY Niagara which I believe is technically a JUCO transfer. Tyler Mynatt is committed and seems to be a good bet to make it to campus. He hit 30 bombs at Walters State.

I believe we also had a kid from UVA on campus last week. Not sure where that stands.

 

ETSU SoCon pitcher of the year is a Vol. Brady Frederick

 

I had a feeling Tony might poach off of ETSU.

 

I had forgotten about the new roster size requirements so some of those names I mentioned initially may find themselves victims to that.

Going to be an interesting summer regardless.

Edit: this past season there were 53 guys on the roster.

 

Wonder how it’s mixing with more full rides along with NIL.
Used to be 11.7 which was mostly split amongst all but a couple players then nil came into play.
Now it’s 34.

 

Confirmed. He’s going to be a great change out of the pen. I think Vols fans are going to love him - crazy unique delivery and from Knoxville.

 

SI writer is convinced Tony is interested in the Arkansas job if/when it comes open. Apparently he currently makes double what DVH makes though. Not sure I buy it.

 

He respects Arkansas but things would have to really go downhill for that to happen.

 

Why would he want to leave a school capable of winning a national championship to go to Arkansas?

 

We gave him his opportunity to be a head coach at and SEC school. He’s the highest paid coach in college baseball. He has an AD that recognizes the value he brings to the school and athletic department. He has proven that you can win in baseball at Tennessee, a program that was basically left for dead until he showed up. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say he is single handedly responsible for the upgrades at LNS. The fans have and continue to support him by setting record attendance numbers. He just spent 3.7 million dollars on a house and property in the heart of West Knoxville and is spending more upgrading it.

I’ll never say never because things change, but it seems pretty unlikely right now.

 

Here’s the article I assume is being referenced.

https://www.si.com/college/arkansas...-retire-college-world-series-thompson-sec-job

 

Yes, that's the one. Pretty weak evidence - basically him saying nice things.

 

I do sorta luv that Vol Tony V. is Arky's Gruden.

 

Tony is here as long as Danny White is here. Danny's replacement will have to be incompetent for Tony to leave after that

 

King of Knoxville is a good gig. I have never been to Fayetteville but i have been all over the country and around the world once. Knoxville is special.

 

Arkansas people are very weird. You can always somehow pick them out in Memphis.

 

He’ll never be the head coach at Arkansas because there is a 0% chance that Vitello would call the hogs at a press conference. Everything else is irrelevant

 

I was about to post that he’s way too cool to look like an idiot calling the Hogs.