Tennessee Baseball Position Previews: Vols must replace key veterans in outfield rotation
We are just under a week from Opening Day when the Vols take on Texas Tech on Friday, February 16 to kick off the Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Tennessee will play Oklahoma and Baylor that weekend as well, before returning home to Lindsey Nelson Stadium to gear up for conference play a month later.
This week on Volquest, we’ll take a look at the Tennessee baseball squad position-by-position. Today, we look at the outfield and who could be making plays for the Vols this upcoming season.
Returners (5) Projected Starters: Dreiling (LF), Ensley (CF), Tears (RF)
Right-handed hitting centerfielder Hunter Ensley didn’t waste much time claiming a starting job last season, becoming a regular on the lineup card following the first few weeks of the season. The former high school quarterback and native of Alaska started 50 of the 59 games he appeared in and sported a .280 batting average across 193 at-bats. Ensley launched seven home runs, drove in 31 runs and fit in nicely at the No. 2 spot in the order while logging a 1.000 fielding percentage in center. He’ll be the everyday centerfielder in 2024 and figures to be once again around the top of the lineup card.
A true freshman a season ago, Dylan Dreiling is poised to move into an everyday role for the Vols this year. Hitting from the left-side, the Hays, Kan. native was a star pitcher and outfielder in high school and was considered the No. 293 overall prospect in the nation by Perfect Game. Dreiling earned 24 starts over 50 appearances, registering a .295 batting average with seven home runs and 20 RBI over 95 at-bats last season. He also walked (24) more than striking out (20) and was the lone Vol (who qualified) to accomplish the feat. Dreiling has good discipline at the plate and can be an above-average defender in the outfield.
It took Kavares Tears a little while to find regular at-bats with Tennessee and when he finally did in 2023, the outfielder was hampered with multiple injuries. That limited him to just 56 at-bats on the year over 29 appearances with just 14 starts. Still, Tears made the most of his chances in the lineup, hitting .304 with a pair of home runs and 12 runs scored. When healthy, Tears is a capable middle-of-the-order slugger from the left side. He could also share some playing time with Reese Chapman in right field.
Chapman, a true freshman in 2023, found it hard to find regular at-bats in a crowded outfield. He still absolutely maxed out with the opportunities presented with five hits over 19 at-bats, including two home runs and seven RBI. One of home run came in dramatic fashion over the nonconference slate, a game-ending three-run blast to walk off a run-rule victory against Eastern Kentucky.
Veteran Colby Backus is also expected to be a depth piece for the Vols this season after failing to crack the active roster his first year on campus. He’s had two successful summers playing in the Appalachian League and was a former NJCAA All-American while playing a key role for Walters State during a third-place finish in the 2022 Junior College World Series.
Others to Watch
It remains to be seen whether or not freshman two-way player Brayden Sharp will help the Vols this season, but he is getting reps in both the outfield and on the mound whereas fellow two-way freshman Cole Eaton figures to only be depth in the bullpen as of now. Junior College transfer Marcus Phillips is another two-way player, but his big frame and lively right arm will help the Vols on the mound immediately. Though it would be highly unlikely to see Phillips play the outfield, he could appear as a pinch-hitter if needed.
“It is a challenge,” Vitello answered when asked about coaching two-way players. “How much do they want to forge ahead in both areas because with our game and golf alike, it’ll beat you up mentally. It takes a lot of time, it’s mentally exhausting and then there is failure involved. So, sometimes, guys just kind of say, I’m going to, for peace of mind, I’m going to steer off into one direction or the other.
“We love when guys want to take on the challenge of doing both. But it is going be up to them to forge ahead through that. And then for us, the biggest thing is just to balance out the arm, not go crazy in the field as a position player if you know you’re going to throw on the mound and just kind of balancing those things out.”
Jeremy Comer and Holden Brauner will have to work to make the active roster, but both arrive as promising freshmen. Lipscomb Academy’s Hunter High also has a bright future as a converted infielder. Veterans who have cross trained in the outfield this offseason and who could be an option to mix things up include Christian Moore (CF, LF), Blake Burke (RF) and Robin Villeneuve (LF) – the latter getting an extended look here in the outfield prior to the start of the season.
One final name worth mentioning is Missouri transfer Dalton Bargo. A natural catcher, Bargo’s utility will be best served with the bat in his hand as a designated or pinch-hitter, but also in the corner infield and corner outfield. As a freshman in 2023 with the Tigers, Bargo averaged .279 at the plate over 165 at-bats with five homers, 23 RBI and 25 runs scored on the year. He was an all-star in Appalachian League play this past summer, primarily playing the corner infield and outfield.
“He knows what the league looks like. He knows what college baseball looks like, he knows what being in the starting lineup (looks like), so that’ll play to his advantage and he’s got a little sense of determination to him that he didn’t have in the fall too,” Vitello concluded. “So, all things combined, he’s gonna be a guy who gets at-bats for us, probably plays behind the plate in the infield and in the outfield, which will be fun.”
Who Tennessee must replace in the outfield
Jared Dickey (Draft, Royals 11th Round): All-SEC, 63 Games, 61 Starts, .328 AVG, 12 HR, 52 RBI, 55 R, 7 SB
Griffin Merritt (Graduation): 61 Games, 51 Starts, .311 AVG, 18 HR, 48 RBI, 42 R, 2 SB
Christian Scott (Graduation): 64 Games, 46 Starts, .266 AVG, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 37 R, 12 SB
Kyle Booker (Transfer Portal): 28 Games, 12 Starts, .236 AVG, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 9 R, 2 SB
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