Tennessee baseball is getting a pair of players in its starting lineup for the first time this season. Both utility men Blake Grimmer and Garrett Wright have dealt with injuries early this season and will start against Oakland on Wednesday evening, GoVols247’s Ben McKee and Volquest’s Mike Wilson first reported and a source confirmed to RTI.
Wright can play in the outfield and catch but will start at centerfield in his first game starting this season. Grimmer is a corner infielder and outfielder and will start at first base against the Grizzlies. Tennessee has mostly been without the duo this season but head coach Josh Elander hinted that the two were nearing a return on Sunday.
“I think we’re getting really close,” Elander said of their potential return. “Grimmer took BP back to back days. That was a good sign. G-Wright was swinging the bat well in BP. We’ll see.”
It’s a unique lineup for Tennessee against Oakland. Levi Clark is getting the day off while Grimmer starts at first base. The same goes for Stone Lawless with Trent Grindlinger starting behind the plate. With Wright in centerfield Abernathy will start at second base.
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Chris Newstrom is starting at shortstop instead of Manny Marin. Usual starters Blaine Brown (left field), Henry Ford (third base) and Reese Chapman (right field) are in the lineup while Taylor Tracey will start on the mound and DH.
Wright has technically already made his season debut after breaking the hamate bone in his wrist during preseason practice. The catcher and outfielder was a defensive sub in Tennessee’s 8-3 win over Bellarmine last week, playing center field in the ninth inning.
But Wright has only available as a defensive sub and has yet to hit in a game at Tennessee. He transferred to Tennessee from Bowling Green over the offseason where he played two seasons for the Falcons. He twice earned First Team All-MAC selection and was the MAC Defensive Player of the Year this past season.
Grimmer has been dealing with lower back pain since the preseason and has yet to play this year. The utility man is entering his redshirt sophomore season after hitting .318 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 44 at-bats last season. He played in 27 games and started nine of them. Most of his work came during midweek games but is pushing for a bigger role this season.
Tennessee is currently 9-3 on the young season and is in the midst of a six-game home stand before opening up SEC play at Georgia on Friday, March 13. The Vols host Wright State in a three-game series this weekend.
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