Tennessee left-handed pitcher Cam Appenzeller earned Perfect Game Second Team Freshman All-American honors after a strong debut collegiate season.
Appenzeller was one of five relief pitchers on the second team along with five starting pitchers. The Vols were one of just three SEC teams to put pitchers on the All-Freshman team along with Alabama and Texas.
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).
But in his final five series in SEC play, Appenzeller allowed 20 earned runs in 11 innings pitched (16.36 ERA) as he struggled to recreate the success he had in the first half of SEC play.
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Appenzeller settled into a middle ground 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.
Appenzeller is set to return to Tennessee baseball for his sophomore season, marking one of the biggest wins of the offseason for Josh Elander and his staff.
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 Vols have retained a handful of key players from last season’s team including RHP Landon Mack, catcher Stone Lawless, catcher/designated hitter Trent Grindlinger and first baseman Levi Clark.
