Tennessee baseball roster 2026: Six thoughts after Josh...

Tennessee baseball wrapped up six weeks of fall baseball with its final scrimmage on Nov. 9.

The Vols are headed into the offseason under new coach Josh Elander with a clearer picture of the roster in many ways and competition hanging across the field.

Here are six thoughts on Tennessee's roster leaving the fall:

Levi Clark is headed for a huge year

Levi Clark looks the part of a breakout star.

The sophomore is going to slot in the heart of the lineup and punish the ball. He hit with power to all fields in scrimmages. He likely is the starting first baseman, but also can catch.

Clark hit .298 with 10 homers and 34 RBIs in 51 games with 38 starts as a freshman. Pairing him with Henry Ford in the middle of the lineup is tantalizing.

Evan Blanco has to open the season in the starting rotation

Evan Blanco might have been on the outside looking in at the weekend rotation when fall started, given the Vols also have Brandon Arvidson, Tegan Kuhns and Landon Mack. He's not on the outside leaving the fall.

The lefty transfer from Virginia might have been Tennessee's most consistent fall pitcher, looking every bit the force he was on the Cavaliers' 2024 College World Series team.

Tennessee has rebuilt the bullpen as it hoped

Tennessee had an elite pitching staff in 2025, but it was mostly made up of tall, hard-throwing right-handers.

That's no longer the case. The Vols have multiple looks, ranging from Bo Rhudy's unhittable fastball to Mark Hindy's big lefty look, from Chandler Day's deceptive delivery to Brady Frederick's submarine from the right side. Rhudy was exceptional in the fall. Freshman lefty Jackson Estes is a name to know.

It's a totally different bullpen that'll give pitching coaches Frank Anderson and Josh Reynolds the ability to mix and match arms.

Who wins the shortstop spot has a big ripple effect on the lineup

Tennessee has two primary options at shortstop in Ariel Antigua and Manny Marin. Antigua had an outstanding fall and heads into the offseason as the front-runner to start at shortstop, which creates an infield logjam.

Marin could be at either second or third base. The same is true for Chris Newstrom. Ford and Blake Grimmer played a lot of third base. Those three also can play in the outfield.

If Marin is the shortstop, the way the group falls seems more simple. Either Newstrom or Jay Abernathy would be at second and one of Ford, Newstrom or Grimmer would be at third.

But it is clear at least one potential starting infielder will likely land in the outfield.

Cameron Appenzeller is a future ace

Cameron Appenzeller made it to Tennessee instead of being an early MLB draft pick.

The heralded freshman pitcher backed up the buzz about his talent throughout the fall. He's a future ace in Knoxville. The weekend rotation is crowded, which leaves room for Appenzeller to potentially be a midweek starter and throw out of the bullpen on weekends.

How does Blake Grimmer get in the lineup?

Grimmer is certainly one of Tennessee's best nine hitters. He might be one of the top three or four. But where does he get into the lineup?

His three options are left field, third base and designated hitter. Grimmer or Ford could be at third, with the other in left. Blaine Brown also could play in left or be the DH. Brown is going to be in the lineup after an impressive fall.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.