So far, Tennessee baseball has landed the commitment of one transfer portal prospect. Out of Mercer, two-way standout Braydon Kersey picked the Vols last week.
How good is Kersey, though? Well, On3 dropped a top-25 players in the transfer portal list on Monday afternoon, and Kersey not only appeared, but was in the top-15. The first baseman and right-handed pitcher clocked in at No. 15 exactly on the list.
No outgoing Tennessee players were named, either. Notable departures from the Vols include Manny Marin, Jay Abernathy, Ariel Antigua, Chris Newstrom, Brayden Krenzel, Ethan Moore and more.
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Kersey began his freshman season as a starting pitcher in Mercer’s weekend rotation before later moving to the bullpen. He posted a 4.97 ERA in 50.2 innings pitched during that 2025 season. However, as Kersey’s bat made him an everyday starter in 2026, his role on the mound decreased. In 20 innings, he earned six saves while posting a 4.95 ERA in typically high-leverage spots.
After totaling just 27 at-bats as a freshman, Kersey became a staple in the lineup in 2026. A left-handed hitter, Kersey hit .325 with 21 homers, 11 doubles and 67 RBI.
“They said every practice I will start and get my throwing out of the way,” Kersey told RTI. “When I do my position work, like, I won’t be throwing then unless I absolutely need to in intersquads or stuff like that. Like I’ll get my pitching throwing work out of the way and then kind of filter into the rest of the practice based off how that goes and get my hitting BP groups in, mobility and lifts in after that.”
Tennessee intends to add more than just Kersey through the transfer portal for its second year under the direction of Josh Elander. So far, Samford outfielder Jake Souders, Northwestern State pitcher Brody Trosclair and Air Force infielder Wyatt Hanoian also have announced intentions to visit UT.
