Tennessee baseball starting pitcher Evan Blanco spent just one year in Knoxville but made a serious impact as one of the Vols’ weekend starting pitchers throughout the 2026 season.
Following the conclusion of the 2026 season, Blanco is out of college eligibility and will begin a professional career. After Tennessee’s season-ending loss against VCU, Blanco took to Instagram to post a farewell message to college and Tennessee baseball.
“I came to Tennessee hoping to continue growing as a player, but I ended up gaining so much more than that,” Blanco wrote. “My experience here was nothing short of amazing. The people here are what make Tennessee special, and I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who made this year unforgettable.
“Looking back, I am also thankful for the struggles I faced in 2025. At the time, they were difficult, but without them, my path never would have led me to Knoxville. Sometimes the setbacks that seem to hold you back are actually the ones guiding you toward something special. Everything happens for a reason.
“Thank you Tennessee for an incredible year. I’ll always be thankful for what this place provided me and relationships that came with it. Representing the Power T is something I will cherish forever. I am proud to be a Vol.”
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Blanco came to Tennessee after spending the first three years of his college career at Virginia. He was a Friday night starter on a Virginia team that made the College World Series in 2024 before battling injury and struggling as a junior, posting a 3-5 record and 6.23 ERA.
The left-handed pitcher came to Tennessee looking to prove he was more like the pitcher who excelled in 2024 than the one who struggled in 2025. Blanco did just that, posting a 7-4 record and 4.65 ERA whole striking out a career-best 101 batters in 89 innings pitched.
While Tennessee went 0-2 in the Chapel Hill Regional, it was not because of a poor performance from Blanco. The left-handed pitcher allowed one run on seven hits in seven innings pitched of Tennessee’s extra-innings loss against East Carolina.
Blanco is one of two weekend starters that Tennessee will likely have to replace next season along with right-handed ace Tegan Kuhns.
