Florida International transfer infielder Mario Trivella committed to Tennessee baseball on Thursday afternoon, he announced in a report from On3.
Trivella is coming off a junior season where he slashed .287/.384/.580 with 15 home runs, eight doubles and 50 RBIs. He started 49 games on a FIU that struggled, posting a 19-35 (10-20 CUSA) record.
Originally a Venezuela native, Trivella played his prep baseball at Sarasota High School in Florida. He spent the first two years of his college career at State College of Florida where he combined to hit nine home runs and 54 RBIs.
After playing sparingly as a freshman, Trivella hit .324 with seven home runs, nine doubles, three triples and 44 RBIs in his sophomore season at State College of Florida. Due to new NCAA eligibility changes, Trivella still has two years of eligibility remaining.
Tennessee has loaded up on infielders this offseason after losing Manny Marin, Jay Abernathy, Ariel Antigua and Henry Ford to either the MLB Draft or the transfer portal. The Vols have added a number of transfer infielders including Air Force’s Wyatt Hanoian, Cal Baptist’s Chris Ramirez and Baylor’s Travis Sanders. Sanders is eligible for this weekend’s MLB Draft while Hanoian and Ramirez are not.
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Trivella is the 11th transfer to commit to Tennessee this offseason along with Hanoian, Ramirez, Sanders, Wright State outfielder Andrew Duncan, Clemson right-handed pitcher Hayden Simmerson, Louisville right-handed pitcher Parker Detmers, South Carolina left-handed pitcher Jake McCoy, Northwestern State left-handed pitcher Brody Trosclair, UC Irvine left-handed pitcher Ricky Ojeda and Mercer two-way Braydon Kersey.
Eighteen Tennessee players have entered the transfer portal this offseason including right-handed pitcher DJ McDowell, right-handed pitcher Jax Bishop, infielder Ethan Moore 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, utility man Hunter High, utility man Chris Newstrom, outfielder Hutson Chance, right-handed pitcher Brayden Krenzel, two-way Taylor Tracey, right-handed pitcher Sawyer Deering and right-handed pitcher Ari Bethea.
A number of Tennessee players have announced intentions to return for next season including outfielder Blaine Brown, RHP Landon Mack, LHP Cam Appenzeller, first baseman Levi Clark, catcher Trent Grindlinger, catcher Stone Lawless, utility man Blake Grimmer and LHP Will Haas.
