Tennessee fans could get a first look at Vols’ version of Shohei Ohtani on Tuesday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium
Blaine Brown has made a quick name for himself and could do so further in a different role.
Blaine Brown has had a red-hot start to his baseball career with the Tennessee Vols. The Rice transfer came into the season with a good bit of hype, but perhaps that didn’t even match what fans were in store for when he finally took the field.
A smooth, left-handed swing? Check. Brown’s swing looked as effortless as Blake Burke at the plate. Extreme power off the bat? Also check. Brown hit 111 and 112-mile per hour howitzers over the wall over the weekend sweep of Nicholls State.
A dominating arm on the mound? Well, we’re about to find out if the Vols perhaps have their own college version of Dodgers All-Star Shohei Ohtani on Tuesday.
Tennessee announced their starting pitcher for Tuesday’s game against UNC-Asheville, and Brown is drawing the start.
Tennessee slugger Blaine Brown is the Vols’ starting pitcher on Tuesday against UNC-Asheville
The move isn’t a surprise per se, as Brown came to Knoxville as a two-way player. While he was a prolific hitter his freshman year at Rice, he didn’t get as much work on the mound, with seven appearances, including one against Tennessee. The Vols got the better of him that day, putting up three runs in less than an inning of work.
However, Elander and his staff have apparently seen enough talent to warrant giving Brown the first crack at a mid-week start, so there’s talent there that they believe in.
Brown has captured the attention of Tennessee fans and more around the country with his hitting display in Tennessee’s opening series. He went to the plate 15 times and got on base nine of them. Four of his hits went for extra bases, with three round trippers. It had even captured the awe of the umpiring crew by the end of the series.
It was a special weekend for a player that Tennessee fans hope is at the beginning of a special season for the Vols.
And if Brown can sling it anywhere in the same universe that he can hit, the Vols could indeed have a unicorn in their clubhouse this season.
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