Left-handed pitcher Cam Appenzeller is returning to Tennessee baseball for his sophomore season, Volquest’s Mike Wilson first reported Tuesday. Appenzeller also posted on Instagram with eight photos from his freshman season and the caption “gbo.”
Appenzeller returning for his sophomore season is a major win for Josh Elander and his staff. The talented left hander earned Freshman All-SEC honors and would have been one of the top players in the transfer portal this offseason.
Elander spoke often during the season about how Appenzeller would have a major role in Tennessee’s pitching staff over the next two years. Appenzeller will almost certainly be one of the Vols’ weekend starting pitchers next season.
The Illinois native posted a 6-1 record, 4.76 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in his freshman season. Appenzeller struck out 64 batters and walked 15 in 56.2 innings pitched.
It was an up-and-down freshman season for Appenzeller. He was one of the best pitchers in the SEC the first half of SEC play. The left-handed pitcher didn’t allow an earned run in his first 20 innings pitched in SEC play. Through five appearances in five series, Appenzeller allowed just two earned runs in 23.1 innings pitched (0.77 ERA).
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Appenzeller settled into the middle in the postseason, allowing three earned runs in 8.1 innings pitched in three appearances. He ended the year strong, retiring all eight batters he faced in Tennessee’s season-ending loss against VCU.
Nine Tennessee players have entered the transfer portal this offseason, including utility man Jay Abernathy, catcher Cash Williams, infielder Finley Bates, shortstop Ariel Antigua, infielder Ethan Moore, first baseman Evan Hankins, utility man Hunter High, utility man Chris Newstrom and right-handed pitcher Brayden Krenzel.
After failing to make it out of the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, Elander and his coaching staff enter a critical offseason. Tennessee will lose a number of players to the portal and will be aggressive adding more talent to its roster.
