Shortstop Jake Kendro and outfielder Kyle Booker have entered the transfer portal, a Tennessee spokesperson confirmed to RTI.
The deadline to enter the portal was at midnight on Thursday, so Kendro and Booker will likely be the final Vols to depart this offseason via the portal.
Kendro and Booker are the 13th and 14th Vols to enter the portal.
Booker’s decision to enter the portal comes as no surprise given his lack of playing time over the course of the season last year. Booker entered the season as a starter in the outfield, having started 10 of the first 12 games in 2023.
However, Booker’s struggles at the plate led to significantly decreased playing time as SEC play approached. Booker saw action in the first five weekends of SEC play, starting in two games, but after game two at Arkansas, Booker did not appear in another SEC game.
Booker played three total years at Tennessee. Booker was an offseason standout seemingly every year, but he was never able to consistently have a big role. In total, the Southaven, Mississippi, native appeared in 27, 29 and 28 games in 2021, 2022, and 2023 respectively. In 2023, Booker hit .236 with 13 hits, 4 RBI, three doubles, one home run, six walks and nine runs scored.
Booker is entering his true senior season and final year of eligibility in 2024. It was unlikely Booker was going to have a big role next year.
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Kendro is a much bigger loss for Tennessee given the Vols’ lack of shortstop depth. Maui Ahuna was drafted in the fourth round of the MLB Draft by the Giants, and Austen Jaslove entered the transfer portal. Kendro was the only returning shortstop remaining, so Tennessee will likely rely on a freshman to fill that spot or get a transfer.
Additionally, Wofford transfer infielder Ryan Galanie, who would have likely played third base for Tennessee, signed with the White Sox, further hurting Tennessee’s depth in the left-side of the infield.
In his freshman season, Kendro did well in limited appearances both defensively and at the plate.
Kendro logged seven total starts, some due to a Maui Ahuna injury while others were sporadic midweek starts.
In 24 total appearances, Kendro batted .219 with seven hits, four doubles, one home run, six RBI, four walks and six runs scored.
For all Tennessee baseball transfer portal news, follow along with RTI’s Tennessee baseball transfer portal tracker here.
