Right-handed pitcher Anson Seibert did not make Tennessee baseball’s office 2026 roster with the program positioning the exclusion as a leave of absence this season while leaving the door open for Seibert to return in 2027.
Seibert has found a home for the 2026 season at Johnson Community College in Overland, Kansas. The Cavaliers posted a 52-13 record a season ago and made it to the NJCAA College World Series in Colorado before their season came to a close in a loss against Blinn College.
The Overland Park, Kansas native missed the entirety of his freshman season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in the summer before arriving for his first season at Tennessee. Seibert faced another setback and underwent another elbow procedure back in September which led to him missing the entirety of fall practice.
Seibert was one of the highest rated recruits in Tennessee’s 2024 recruiting class, and along with Tegan Kuhns, made up a talented pitching class to make it to campus.
Tennessee projects as a top 15 team entering Josh Elander’s first season as 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 Quentin Eberhardt.
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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.
