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Tennessee baseball's starting lineup for the 2027 season continues to take shape.
Coach Josh Elander has added eight transfers this offseason, some of whom will immediately slot into starting roles alongside key returners.
The most recent player to announce his return was Blake Grimmer, who will return to the middle of the order alongside Levi Clark and Trent Grindlinger. Pitchers Landon Mack and Cam Appenzeller are also coming back.
Those players are clearly poised to play major roles next season for a team that will, like many others, place significant responsibility on many different newcomers to form a complete lineup and pitching rotation.
Here's a look at who might fill those starting positions for Tennessee in 2027:
Infielders Wyatt Hanoian (Air Force) and Travis Sanders (Baylor) have transferred to Tennessee, and Cal Baptist shortstop Chris Ramirez has reportedly been linked to the Vols, although he hasn’t publicly announced his commitment. If he does arrive on campus, he will likely start at shortstop. Hanoian is a strong candidate to start at second base and Sanders could play third with the option to go pro.
First base and catcher will be particularly complicated if Sanders occupies third. Grimmer could play first with Clark and Grindlinger splitting the catcher and designated hitter positions, but that would leave out power-hitting Mercer transfer Braydon Kersey and returning catcher Stone Lawless.
Tennessee may have to get creative to make room, so perhaps one of those players will move into the outfield. Grimmer has the versatility to do so and Clark played some outfield as a freshman in 2025.
If Sanders does sign with an MLB team, things get more straightforward, since Grimmer could play third while Clark, Grindlinger and Lawless rotate at first and catcher.
Two of Tennessee’s starting outfield spots seem secured. Blaine Brown is returning after starting last season in left field and Wright State transfer Andrew Duncan is the leading candidate to replace Garrett Wright in center field with Wright likely gone to the MLB draft.
That leaves one corner outfield spot open. In addition to the infielders who could move to the outfield, utility player Tyler Myatt is back. He was mainly a bench player in 2026 but was a top junior college prospect when he transferred in last offseason.
Elander could also add another transfer.
The Vols’ starting pitching rotation will feature returners Mack and Appenzeller, with Mack returning for his junior season as a potential Friday night starter and Appenzeller moving from the bullpen after his freshman year.
The third spot in the rotation will likely be filled by one of Tennessee’s transfers: Jake McCoy (South Carolina), Brody Trosclair (Northwestern State) and Parker Detmers (Louisville), all of whom missed some or all of last season after elbow surgeries. McCoy is a risk to sign in this year’s draft.
The competition for that starting spot could last up until, and perhaps even past, the start of the season.
Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; X: @EmmettSiegel_
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Projecting Tennessee baseball's starting lineup for 2027 season
Continue reading...
Coach Josh Elander has added eight transfers this offseason, some of whom will immediately slot into starting roles alongside key returners.
The most recent player to announce his return was Blake Grimmer, who will return to the middle of the order alongside Levi Clark and Trent Grindlinger. Pitchers Landon Mack and Cam Appenzeller are also coming back.
Those players are clearly poised to play major roles next season for a team that will, like many others, place significant responsibility on many different newcomers to form a complete lineup and pitching rotation.
Here's a look at who might fill those starting positions for Tennessee in 2027:
A crowded infield
Infielders Wyatt Hanoian (Air Force) and Travis Sanders (Baylor) have transferred to Tennessee, and Cal Baptist shortstop Chris Ramirez has reportedly been linked to the Vols, although he hasn’t publicly announced his commitment. If he does arrive on campus, he will likely start at shortstop. Hanoian is a strong candidate to start at second base and Sanders could play third with the option to go pro.
First base and catcher will be particularly complicated if Sanders occupies third. Grimmer could play first with Clark and Grindlinger splitting the catcher and designated hitter positions, but that would leave out power-hitting Mercer transfer Braydon Kersey and returning catcher Stone Lawless.
Tennessee may have to get creative to make room, so perhaps one of those players will move into the outfield. Grimmer has the versatility to do so and Clark played some outfield as a freshman in 2025.
If Sanders does sign with an MLB team, things get more straightforward, since Grimmer could play third while Clark, Grindlinger and Lawless rotate at first and catcher.
One open outfield spot
Two of Tennessee’s starting outfield spots seem secured. Blaine Brown is returning after starting last season in left field and Wright State transfer Andrew Duncan is the leading candidate to replace Garrett Wright in center field with Wright likely gone to the MLB draft.
That leaves one corner outfield spot open. In addition to the infielders who could move to the outfield, utility player Tyler Myatt is back. He was mainly a bench player in 2026 but was a top junior college prospect when he transferred in last offseason.
Elander could also add another transfer.
Two familiar faces in the starting rotation
The Vols’ starting pitching rotation will feature returners Mack and Appenzeller, with Mack returning for his junior season as a potential Friday night starter and Appenzeller moving from the bullpen after his freshman year.
The third spot in the rotation will likely be filled by one of Tennessee’s transfers: Jake McCoy (South Carolina), Brody Trosclair (Northwestern State) and Parker Detmers (Louisville), all of whom missed some or all of last season after elbow surgeries. McCoy is a risk to sign in this year’s draft.
The competition for that starting spot could last up until, and perhaps even past, the start of the season.
Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; X: @EmmettSiegel_
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Projecting Tennessee baseball's starting lineup for 2027 season
Continue reading...
