Baseball America released its three All-American teams for the 2026 season earlier this week. No Tennessee players made the three All-American teams but the Vols will have a reigning All-American on their roster next season.
Incoming Tennessee transfer Braydon Kersey earned Third Team All-American honors as the designated “two-way” player. A standout at Mercer, Kersey spent the 2026 season as an every day designated hitter as well as a relief pitcher.
A left-handed slugger, Kersey slashed .325/.438/.684 while hitting 21 homers and 11 doubles and driving in 67 runs last season. Kersey posted a 24.7% strikeout rate and a 14.7% walk rate during his sophomore season. He mostly served as a designated hitter last season.
On the mound, the right-handed pitcher posted a 4.95 ERA while recording six saves in 20 innings pitched during the 2026 season. Kersey had a bigger pitching role as a freshman in 2025 when he posted a 3-4 record, 4.97 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 50.2 innings pitched.
Kersey committed to Tennessee last weekend shortly after completing his official visit with the Volunteer program. He chose the Vols over a top group that included Georgia and Wake Forest. Tennessee’s recruiting pitch for Kersey included a detailed plan for how he will train as both a hitter and pitcher.
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“ 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 than unless I absolutely need to like 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.”
An Alpharetta, Georgia native, Kersey has two more years of eligibility but will also be eligible for the 2027 MLB Draft. If he has another strong year at Tennessee, Kersey will likely spend just one year in Knoxville.
Kersey is one of two transfers that have committed to Tennessee to date along with Northwestern State left-handed pitcher Brody Trosclair. The Vols have also hosted a number of other recruits including still uncommitted Air Force second baseman Wyatt Hanoian.
Fifteen Tennessee players have entered the transfer portal this offseason including first baseman Evan Hankins, right-handed pitcher Nic Abraham, outfielder Nate Eisfelder, shortstop Manny Marin, utility man Jay Abernathy, catcher Cash Williams, infielder Finley Bates, shortstop Ariel Antigua, infielder Ethan Moore, utility man Hunter High, utility man Chris Newstrom, outfielder Hutson Chance and right-handed pitcher Brayden Krenzel, two-way Taylor Tracey and right-handed pitcher Ari Bethea.
A number of Tennessee players have announced intentions to return for next season including RHP Landon Mack, LHP Cam Appenzeller, first baseman Levi Clark, catcher Trent Grindlinger, catcher Stone Lawless, left fielder Blaine Brown and LHP Will Haas.
