The onset of baseball season is here, and the Tennessee Vols are set to commence their 2024 campaign with a game against Texas Tech in Arlington, TX, as part of the Shriners Children’s College Showdown. The match will kick off on Friday at 8:00 PM ET. Following this, Tennessee will face Oklahoma on Saturday at 8:00 PM ET and Baylor on Sunday at 7:30 PM ET, with all games this weekend taking place in Arlington.
The Vols are undergoing transitions as they bid farewell to key players like RHP Chase Dollander, SS Maui Ahuna, and RHP Andrew Lindsey, who have moved on to MLB. Additionally, Tennessee lost RHP Chase Burns to Wake Forest, further reshaping their roster.
Despite these departures, On3 predicts that Tennessee will be among the eight programs advancing to the College World Series later in the summer. The team responded to the loss of eight players to the MLB Draft by actively engaging in the transfer portal. Returning lineup members such as Blake Burke, Christian Moore, Hunter Ensley, and Dylan Dreiling, among others, remain integral. Freshman Ariel Antigua is poised to assume the shortstop position, while transfers, including Cannon Peebles from NC State and Billy Amick from Clemson, are anticipated to play crucial roles in the lineup.
If Tennessee can establish stability in the rotation behind Drew Beam, they stand to perform well. The team boasts several bullpen options, buoyed by a potent lineup that promises ample run support.
According to On3, Arkansas, Duke, Florida, Iowa, LSU, Oregon State, and Wake Forest are the other teams expected to reach Omaha. Notably, Tennessee is scheduled to host LSU in April and travel to Gainesville in May for a matchup against Florida, while they won’t face Arkansas in the regular season this year.
