Saint Mary’s transfer outfielder Diego Castellanos is visiting Tennessee baseball on Tuesday, Volquest’s Eric Cain reported Monday.
Castellanos is coming off a standout junior season for the Gaels where he slashed .382/.458/.554 with six home runs, 21 doubles, two triples and 50 RBIs on his way to earning First Team All-WCC honors. The California native totaled just two at-bats in his freshman year before hitting .311 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs as a sophomore.
Three years removed from high school, Castellanos is eligible for this summer’s MLB Draft and is a risk to instead begin his professional career as opposed to playing his senior college season. However, Perfect Game does not list Castellanos as a top 300 draft prospect and MLB pipeline does not list him in its top 200 draft prospect rankings.
Castellanos spent most his junior season starting in right field for a Saint Mary’s team that made the NCAA Tournament. However, the left-handed hitter also earned starts in centerfield.
Tennessee is in major need of outfielders as it builds its roster for next season. Reese Chapman is out of eligibility, Garrett Wright is likely headed to professional baseball and both Jay Abernathy and Nate Eisfelder entered the transfer portal. Blaine Brown is the only returning outfielder who contributed a season ago.
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The Vols previously hosted Samford outfielder Jake Souders and Tulane outfielder Jason Wachs on visits but Souders committed to Mississippi State and Wachs committed to LSU.
Tennessee baseball has landed two transfer commits to date— Mercer two-way Braydon Kersey and Northwestern LHP Brody Trosclair. The Vols have also hosted Air Force second baseman Wyatt Hanoian on a visit.
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 Brown, RHP Landon Mack, LHP Cam Appenzeller, first baseman Levi Clark, catcher Trent Grindlinger, catcher Stone Lawless and LHP Will Haas.
