How Vols baseball already has an upper hand on the competition for next season
The Tennessee Vols will look to repeat as Omaha attendees next season. Then, they'll look to make their stay a bit longer than it was this past season. If they want to do that, their veterans will have to provide leadership and stability. Luckily for them, they are in a better spot with returning proven […]
The Tennessee Vols will look to repeat as Omaha attendees next season. Then, they'll look to make their stay a bit longer than it was this past season. If they want to do that, their veterans will have to provide leadership and stability. Luckily for them, they are in a better spot with returning proven talent than some other contending programs.
The Vols had four players selected in the first ten rounds of the 2023 MLB Draft. That's less than SEC programs like LSU (6), Vanderbilt (6), Arkansas (5), and Florida (5).
That statistic is extremely important to consider. The difference between losing even one top-flight draft pick from an SEC roster can make a huge difference. Not to mention, the Vols have replacements waiting in the wings for pitching depth.
Don't count Tony Vitello out from grabbing another elite arm out of the portal before the summer is over, either. As for the lineup, they sit in a good spot – even after losing Ahuna. That was expected, and they'll look upon some young, exciting talent to step up there.
Not to mention, recruits are a major piece of the draft process. The Vols did well for their short-term future there as well. They did not lose a handful of recruits – like some other programs did that they will be fighting with for a trip to the College World Series. Players want to come play for Tony Vitello and the Vols.
© Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
