Cal Baptist shortstop Chris Ramirez officially announced his commitment to Tennessee baseball out of the transfer portal on Monday, he announced on X (Twitter). Ramirez is the reigning WAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year after a standout 2026 season.
The standout shortstop reportedly committed to the Vols two weeks prior before publicly announcing his intentions on Monday.
A Corona, California native, Ramirez slashed .389/.452/.575 with seven home runs, 22 doubles, two triples and 42 RBIs during his sophomore season. He also stole 21 bases on 28 attempts. The 5-foot-9 infielder put up strong numbers as a full-time starter in his true freshman season but hit for less power, slashing .350/.414/.424 with just 11 extra-base hits.
Ramirez has exceptional bat-to-ball skills, striking out just 16 times last season while posting an incredibly impressing 6.6% strikeout rate to go along with a 9.9% walk rate.
Ramirez is a rising junior who is not eligible for next month’s MLB Draft but will be eligible for the 2027 draft next summer.
Tennessee was in need of a new starting shortstop after Manny Marin entered the transfer portal as did depth pieces Jay Abernathy and Ariel Antigua. The Vols landed Air Force middle infielder Wyatt Hanoian but landing Ramirez allows Tennessee to play Hanoian at second base. Tennessee also landed Baylor shortstop Travis Sanders who could play third base.
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Ramirez is the eighth transfer to commit to Tennessee this offseason along with Sanders, Hanoian, 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.
