A lot has changed in the college baseball world in the month since Tony Vitello hoisted the National Championship trophy into the Omaha night at Charles Schwab Stadium.
The transfer portal charged on at full speed for weeks and now the MLB Draft, and most of the related signing decisions, are in the rearview mirror. Teams across the country could still add to their rosters for next season but most of the roster movement is done.
With that, Baseball America released its way too early top 25 rankings for the 2025 college baseball season on Wednesday morning.
The reigning National Champion Vols came in at No. 7 in the way too early rankings as they look to replace an abundance of production from last season’s team.
Tennessee is the fourth highest ranked of 10 SEC teams in the rankings. The Vols come in behind No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Florida and No. 5 Texas A&M and ahead of No. 8 Arkansas, No. 11 Georgia, No. 16 Mississippi State, No. 17 South Carolina, No. 18 Vanderbilt and No. 23 Kentucky.
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Recent years have seen major struggles for reigning National Champions. Mississippi State and Ole Miss both missed the NCAA Tournament the year after winning the National Championship while LSU struggled badly out the gates last season before turning it on in the back half of the SEC season to make the tournament. Still, the Tigers’ season came to an end in the Chapel Hill Regional.
Vitello and his staff have to replace an abundance of talent both at the plate and on the mound from its historic 2024 team. Tennessee loses six everyday starters in the lineup including five of the top six hitters in its lineup. In total, the Vols lose 131 of the 160 home runs that they hit last season.
On the mound, Tennessee loses all three of its weekend starters as well as key bullpen arms like AJ Causey, Aaron Combs and Kirby Connell.
Tennessee has gone right to work in the transfer portal where they landed five commitments though first baseman Eric Rataczak signed professionally and will not make it to campus. Still, four transfers will make it to campus including Ole Miss third baseman Andrew Fischer, Louisville middle infielder Gavin Kilen, Ole Miss left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle and Kennesaw State right-handed pitcher Tanner Franklin.
The Vols also landed a pair of notable junior college pitchers — RHP Thomas Crabtree and LHP Brandon Ardvidson — and top prep pitching signees Tegan Kuhns and Anson Seibert elected to come to campus instead of sign professionally.
