‘I think that is a poorly kept secret’ – Insider believes Tennessee baseball is working on something that Vols fans will love
Tennessee baseball could be cooking up something special that Vols fans will really love.
Thanks to the recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney, which states that all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted their fourth season of college eligibility this spring are eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27, it’s possible that Tennessee baseball could bring back a fan favorite for next season.
There’s been speculation that outfielder Reese Chapman, who started 57 games as a senior for the Vols in 2026, could return for the 2027 season.
Longtime Vols insider Tony Basilio, in fact, thinks it’s a “poorly kept secret” that Tennessee is working to bring Chapman back.
“It feels like right now, one of the people that Tennessee’s been working on in baseball to try to get back is Reese Chapman,” said Basilio on Monday. “I think that is a poorly kept secret. I think he’s the guy, the mystery man, I think that’s been him. And my sense is, well, now they can do it. Of course, the NCAA is going to appeal. But we’re to the point where it (eligibility rules) is very confusing.”
Basilio was spot-on when he pointed out that college eligibility is very confusing right now. There are no concrete answers, and a ruling by a judge, or a successful appeal, can quickly change things.
So we’ll see if the Vols are able to bring Chapman back for the 2027 season.
There’s no doubt, though, that he’d be a big “re-addition”. Chapman has plenty of SEC experience, he’s a lefty bat, and he hit .317 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI last season.
