New York Yankees young star Jazz Chisholm Jr. had his eyes on the Tennessee baseball game on Sunday, drawing inspiration from the Vols’ starting pitcher.
Chisholm gave a shoutout to Tennessee’s Liam Doyle ahead of the Vols’ game against Arkansas.
“@Doyle22L (Liam Doyle) inspired me rn !!” Chisholm posted to X about 50 minutes before first pitch against the Razorbacks.
@Doyle22L inspired me rn !!
— Jazz Chisholm Jr (@j_chisholm3) June 8, 2025
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While there doesn’t appear to be any obvious connections between the two talented players, both are known as one of the more energetic and exciting players in their respective leagues. It’s no surprise to see a player like Chisholm relate to the passion that Doyle plays with.
Doyle’s patented swagger and fire have been on display all season, but perhaps never more memorable than his relief outing against Wake Forest in the final game of the Knoxville Regional last week on Rocky Top. Doyle struck out five batters in 2.1 innings of relief work to help Tennessee advance to the Fayetteville Super Regional with a win over the Demon Deacons.
In fairness, Liam Doyle is always fired up.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 3, 2025
Doyle took the mound to start Game 2 of the Fayetteville Super Regional on Sunday afternoon, going 3.2 innings on the mound for the Vols before being pulled in the fourth inning. The 6-foot-2 lefty struck out six but allowed five hits and was tagged with five earned runs as Arkansas held a 7-1 lead after the fourth inning.
Doyle’s attention will soon turn to where Chisholm is – not necessarily the Yankees, specifically, but Major League Baseball in general. In Kiley McDaniel’s MLB mock draft on May 28, the ESPN expert slotted Doyle as the No. 2 overall pick to the Los Angeles Angels as the sixth-rated prospect in his Top 150 rankings.
“Doyle had one of the most incredible regular seasons in years, but did get hit around in the SEC tournament,” McDaniel wrote before the Vols’ NCAA tournament games against Miami (OH), Wake Forest, and Arkansas. “You could justify Kade Anderson or Jamie Arnold as the top college prospect here, but Doyle fits their interests better. Aiva Arquette is mentioned, and I think he’s in their mix, but I’d assume a pitcher is where the Angels land.”
The 2025 MLB Draft will begin on July 13 in Atlanta, GA.
For more on Tennessee’s season-ending 11-4 loss to Arkansas in the Fayetteville Super Regional on Sunday, check out Rocky Top Insider’s game reporting here.
