One of Tennessee baseball’s best pitchers will not be available this weekend against Nicholls, head coach Josh Elander shared postgame. Earlier in the week, Elander said that they were uncertain whether Arvidson would be available this weekend after being limited this preseason with arm slowness.
While Tennessee will be without one of its top pitchers in the season’s opening series, Elander was overall positive about Arvidson’s progression.
“No,” Elander said on if Arvidson is available this weekend. “Arv threw yesterday, threw really, really well. We are going to be overly cautious with Arv. Really feel good about where he’s at. With him being a proven guy in our bullpen or also could start at any point for us, we are going to play it safe there this weekend.”
Arvidson was the surprise of the MLB Draft for Tennessee, electing to return to Knoxville for his redshirt junior season after going unselected in the first three rounds of the draft. The left-handed pitcher struggled early in the 2025 season but emerged as a dominant reliever late in the season, finishing the year with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP in 38.2 innings pitched.
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The former Texas A&M and junior college pitcher posted an incredibly effective 42% strikeout rate last season. When he cut his walk rate late in the season, Arvidson emerged as one of Tennessee’s best pitchers. His improvement helped the Vols’ pitching staff steady the ship late in the season.
Arvidson could fill multiple roles for Tennessee this season. He is fully capable of starting for the Vols but will start the season as a Swiss Army knife in Tennessee’s bullpen.
The Vols got their season started in convincing fashion Friday, run-ruling Nicholls 10-0 in eight innings at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Starting pitching Tegan Kuhns was great in 6.2 scoreless innings of action.
Tennessee and Nicholls are playing a double-headed Saturday due to projected inclement weather in the area Sunday. Right-handed pitcher Landon Mack is starting game two of the weekend series while left-handed pitcher Evan Blanco is starting game three.
