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At first glance, it would appear that Tennessee baseball suffered major losses in the transfer portal. Eighteen Vols entered the portal before it closed on June 30, representing nearly half of the 39-player 2026 roster.
That’s undoubtedly a significant number. But it’s also less than the 25 that left last year and doesn’t include many major contributors.
The June 30 deadline was just to enter the portal, so uncommitted players don’t have to decide where they’re transferring quite yet. But nobody else will be departing Tennessee before the 2027 season begins.
From now on, coach Josh Elander will only be making additions.
Although Tennessee lost a significant number of players in the portal, only four position players that left made more than five starts this season.
Shortstop Manny Marin was the only regular starter to transfer, committing to Arkansas. However, his decision to leave Tennessee didn’t come as a major surprise, as he is also eligible for this year’s MLB draft.
Jay Abernathy was another departure to Oklahoma who was in and out of the starting lineup but couldn’t find consistency at the plate. Ariel Antigua transferred to Arizona after spending two seasons on the outside looking in for a starting infield spot. Utility player Chris Newstrom, who committed to UC Santa Barbara, started the 2026 campaign as a regular starter before falling out of favor.
With newcomers arriving via the portal and starters like Blake Grimmer, Levi Clark and Blaine Brown coming back, additional playing time may have been hard to come by.
Tennessee held onto top pitchers like Landon Mack and Cam Appenzeller, who will both fit into the starting rotation next season, but lost a few bullpen pieces.
Nic Abraham originally planned to return but left after pitching coach Josh Reynolds was fired, eventually following Reynolds to his new job at Virginia Tech. Brayden Krenzel transferred to Arkansas after a tough sophomore year, and Taylor Tracey ended up at TCU after primarily pitching in midweek games.
All three were frequently used relievers in 2026, led in innings by Abraham, who threw 34⅔. innings. They all would’ve been in the bullpen mix again had they returned.
Pitchers Ethan Baiotto, Chandler Day and Will Haas will be back as sophomores under new pitching coach Austin Knight.
Ten of Tennessee’s outgoing transfers were freshmen, including five that redshirted and did not appear in a game. Of the other five freshmen, three pitchers (Tracey, Sawyer Deering and Jax Bishop) accounted for 28⅔ innings and two position players (outfielder Nate Eisfelder and infielder Evan Hankins) made only five combined starts.
Other outgoing depth pieces included infielder Finley Bates, who only had one at-bat in SEC play, and utility Hunter High, who didn’t have one.
Tennessee’s outgoing transfers accounted for just 17.1% of their at-bats in conference play, of which more than half were Marin’s. Outgoing transfer pitchers only threw 6.1% of the Vols’ SEC innings.
Tennessee would’ve surely liked to see out the development of some freshmen that departed, but in 2026 most weren’t deemed ready. Bringing back Appenzeller and designated hitter Trent Grindlinger for their sophomore seasons as cornerstones of that recruiting class were priorities.
Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; X: @EmmettSiegel_
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Who Tennessee baseball lost in transfer portal for 2027 roster
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That’s undoubtedly a significant number. But it’s also less than the 25 that left last year and doesn’t include many major contributors.
The June 30 deadline was just to enter the portal, so uncommitted players don’t have to decide where they’re transferring quite yet. But nobody else will be departing Tennessee before the 2027 season begins.
From now on, coach Josh Elander will only be making additions.
Very few starters transferred
Although Tennessee lost a significant number of players in the portal, only four position players that left made more than five starts this season.
Shortstop Manny Marin was the only regular starter to transfer, committing to Arkansas. However, his decision to leave Tennessee didn’t come as a major surprise, as he is also eligible for this year’s MLB draft.
Jay Abernathy was another departure to Oklahoma who was in and out of the starting lineup but couldn’t find consistency at the plate. Ariel Antigua transferred to Arizona after spending two seasons on the outside looking in for a starting infield spot. Utility player Chris Newstrom, who committed to UC Santa Barbara, started the 2026 campaign as a regular starter before falling out of favor.
With newcomers arriving via the portal and starters like Blake Grimmer, Levi Clark and Blaine Brown coming back, additional playing time may have been hard to come by.
Some bullpen arms departed
Tennessee held onto top pitchers like Landon Mack and Cam Appenzeller, who will both fit into the starting rotation next season, but lost a few bullpen pieces.
Nic Abraham originally planned to return but left after pitching coach Josh Reynolds was fired, eventually following Reynolds to his new job at Virginia Tech. Brayden Krenzel transferred to Arkansas after a tough sophomore year, and Taylor Tracey ended up at TCU after primarily pitching in midweek games.
All three were frequently used relievers in 2026, led in innings by Abraham, who threw 34⅔. innings. They all would’ve been in the bullpen mix again had they returned.
Pitchers Ethan Baiotto, Chandler Day and Will Haas will be back as sophomores under new pitching coach Austin Knight.
Most of Tennessee’s transfers played sparingly
Ten of Tennessee’s outgoing transfers were freshmen, including five that redshirted and did not appear in a game. Of the other five freshmen, three pitchers (Tracey, Sawyer Deering and Jax Bishop) accounted for 28⅔ innings and two position players (outfielder Nate Eisfelder and infielder Evan Hankins) made only five combined starts.
Other outgoing depth pieces included infielder Finley Bates, who only had one at-bat in SEC play, and utility Hunter High, who didn’t have one.
Tennessee’s outgoing transfers accounted for just 17.1% of their at-bats in conference play, of which more than half were Marin’s. Outgoing transfer pitchers only threw 6.1% of the Vols’ SEC innings.
Tennessee would’ve surely liked to see out the development of some freshmen that departed, but in 2026 most weren’t deemed ready. Bringing back Appenzeller and designated hitter Trent Grindlinger for their sophomore seasons as cornerstones of that recruiting class were priorities.
Tennessee baseball’s outgoing transfers
- UTL Jay Abernathy (Oklahoma)
- RHP Nic Abraham (Virginia Tech)
- INF Ariel Antigua (Arizona)
- INF Finley Bates
- RHP Ari Bethea
- RHP Jax Bishop
- OF Hutson Chance
- RHP Sawyer Deering (San Diego State)
- OF Nate Eisfelder
- INF Evan Hankins (Virginia Tech)
- UTL Hunter High (Jacksonville State)
- RHP Brayden Krenzel (Arkansas)
- SS Manny Marin (Arkansas)
- RHP DJ McDowell
- INF Ethan Moore (Missouri)
- UTL Chris Newstrom (UC Santa Barbara)
- LHP Taylor Tracey (TCU)
- C Cash Williams (West Virginia)
Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; X: @EmmettSiegel_
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Who Tennessee baseball lost in transfer portal for 2027 roster
Continue reading...
