Josh Elander and his staff have done a strong job of retaining talent as Tennessee builds its roster for the 2027 season. Near the top of the list of key contributors returning for the Vols next season include catchers Stone Lawless, Levi Clark and Trent Grindlinger.
All three spent an abundance of time in Tennessee’s starting lineup last season with Lawless earning 30 of his 33 starts behind the plate, while Clark totaled 36 of his 52 starts at first base and Grindlinger totaled 31 of his 34 starts at designated hitter.
While three shared the starting lineup at times last season, all three are catchers by trade. It makes it a unique situation for Elander and his staff to manage next offseason.
Tennessee showed how all three could be in the starting lineup last season, but the Vols likely won’t want to go into the season with Grindlinger penciled in as a full-time designated hitter for multiple reasons.
First off, Grindlinger will be a draft eligible sophomore and Tennessee would be doing him a disservice by not allowing him to prove he can contribute defensively. Secondly, the Vols won’t want to enter the season with a designated hitter set in stone. The designated hitter spot gives college teams flexibility on who will win starting competitions and how they manage lineups on a game-to-game basis.
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Tennessee’s first portal commitment illustrates the reason the Vols will want designated hitter flexibility. Mercer two-way Braydon Kersey hit .325 with 21 home runs last season while mostly starting at designated hitter for the Bears. The Vols’ lineup will almost certainly include Kersey next season.
Kersey is capable of playing a handful of positions including first base, third base and left field. However, starting him at designated hitter makes it easier if Tennessee wants to use him as a pitcher out of the bullpen.
With Grindlinger, Lawless, Clark and Kersey, Tennessee has a log jam of players who could start at first base, catcher and designated hitter. It’s a good problem to have and will be interesting to see how Elander handles the situation.
Fall practice will be telling as the Vols tinker with playing the quartet at different positions. Clark could work at left field while Grindlinger or Kersey could work at third base.
