Connecticut baseball star Reggie Crawford announced that he’s transferring to Tennessee on his Twitter Tuesday afternoon. The Huskies’ standout visited Tennessee last week after entering the transfer portal earlier in the offseason.
Crawford was a two-way star for two years for the Huskies, playing first base while earning innings as a left-handed pitcher.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound two-way player hit .295 with 11 doubles, 13 home runs and 62 RBIs as a sophomore in 2021. Crawford posted a 2.35 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched in 2021 before missing the entire 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
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While Crawford’s commitment is a huge coup for Tony Vitello and his staff, the drama isn’t over yet. After spending three years in Storrs, Crawford is eligible for next week’s MLB Draft. Crawford is No. 80 on MLB.com’s draft prospect list and the Vols will have to sweat out next week’s draft to get the star to campus.
Those around the Tennessee program believe it’s a true toss up on whether the Vols withhold professional baseball to get Crawford in Knoxville for his senior season.
While most of Crawford’s collegiate success has come at the plate, professional teams view his future on the mound. A LHP with a mid-to-upper 90s fastball, Crawford’s potential on the mound is through the roof.
Tennessee plans to use the former UConn star on the mound and in the field if he enrolls at UT in the fall. While the Vols have their starting rotation back from last season, they lose a handful of relievers including left-hander Redmond Walsh and potentially LHP Will Mabrey.
Crawford is the fourth transfer Tennessee has added this offseason including Kansas shortstop Maui Ahuna, Austin Peay catcher Jack Alexander and Alabama infielder Zane Denton.
