With students set to return to Tennessee’s campus in the coming weeks, Vol baseball is nearing the start of their preseason practice with the 2026 season just over five weeks away. Perfect Game released its preseason top 25 rankings on Thursday with the season approaching.
Tennessee baseball came in at No. 3 in Perfect Game’s preseason rankings with the Vols coming in only behind No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Georgia Tech.
The Vols are one of nine SEC teams in the preseason rankings, coming in behind LSU and ahead of No. 4 Arkansas, No. 6 Mississippi State, No. 8 Texas, No. 10 Auburn, No. 12 Florida, No. 15 Georgia and No. 19 Vanderbilt.
Tennessee has home SEC series against LSU and Texas while heading on the road for series against Georgia, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. The Vols also have a lone non conference matchup against No. 5 UCLA as part of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series in Arlington, Texas.
It’s been a turbulent offseason of change for Tennessee baseball. Highly successful head coach Tony Vitello left to be the manager of the San Fransisco Giants taking with him a small handful of assistants and staffers including Frank Anderson and Quentin Eberhardt.
More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball’s Roster Officially Set For 2026 Season
Danny White tabbed associate head coach Josh Elander as the program’s new head coach. Elander retained a number of assistants including Ross Kivett. He promoted Josh Reynolds to replace Anderson, hired Florida associate head coach Chuck Jeroloman to replace himself as associate head coach and hired Keegan Knoll to replace Eberhardt.
On the field, Tennessee returns veterans Reese Chapman, Ariel Antigua and Stone Lawless in the field and is hoping rising sophomores Levi Clark, Chris Newstrom, Manny Marin and Jay Abernathy take a second year step forward.
The Vols added a number of transfers who could make an impact at the plate led by Virginia’s Henry Ford and including Rice’s Blaine Brown, Bowling Green’s Garrett Wright and San Diego State’s Finley Bates.
Tennessee’s pitching staff projects to be even better than its offense. Sunday starter Tegan Kuhns is back and looking for even more after a solid freshman season. LHP Brandon Arvidson also projects as a weekend starter after a strong back half of the 2025 season. Rising sophomore Brayden Krenzel is another returnee after impressing during his freshman campaign.
The Vols are also active with their pitching staff in the portal, adding Virginia’s Evan Blanco, Kennesaw State’s Bo Rhudy, Rutgers’ Landon Mack and ETSU’s Brady Frederick. Freshman LHP Cameron Appenzeller could also make an impact in his debut collegiate season.
