Tennessee baseball will be without a potential starter this weekend when it opens up its 2026 season against Nicholls in a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Utility man Blake Grimmer will miss the series as he continues to work back from a lower back injury.
“We’re kind of getting him going as quick as we can,” Tennessee head coach Josh Elander said Monday. “It’s a lower back deal that he’s dealing with right now. So again, the cold weather is not helping that out as we go. But complete confidence in Grimm. But I don’t think this weekend is going to be a possibility, but Woody and Dr Klenck are doing an amazing job making sure we’re hitting those benchmarks as he gets back. But the one thing Grimm and I talked about is I just want him to be able to cut it loose three days in a row without any fear of being really sore when he wakes up the next day.”
Grimmer did some work fielding work during a practice open to the media last week but did not swing a bat. During last weekend’s three scrimmages, the left-handed slugger did not participate at all as he looks to get healthy.
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Grimmer is entering his redshirt sophomore season after hitting .318 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 44 at-bats last season. He played in 27 games and started nine of them. Most of his work came during midweek games but is pushing for a bigger role this season.
Most of Grimmer’s work has come at third base during his career but he’s also worked at first base and left field during practice.
“Very confident in what his abilities are and what he is able to do for us,” Elander said last week. “There will be no rush as he comes back from a little bit of a sore back. We will play it safe there with Grimm.”
There was no definitive starting spot for Grimmer entering his third season in Tennessee’s program but he was definitely competing for a starting spot this season.
Grimmer is one of two Tennessee players who will definitively miss this weekend’s series against Nicholls. Catcher/outfielder Garrett Wright is still working back from undergoing wrist surgery last week. Left-handed pitcher Brandon Arvidson is not fully worked up but it is unclear whether or not he’ll be available this weekend. First pitch for the Vols’ 2026 season is on Friday, Feb. 13 at 4:30 p.m. ET at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
