Tennessee baseball is 17 days away from opening up its 2025 season against Hofstra at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville.
The Vols preseason work continues to roll on and that included a 3.5 inning instrasquad scrimmage on Tuesday afternoon where three different pitchers saw action. Here’s some quick notes and thoughts from the scrimmage.
Let’s start with the big moments which was a pair of home runs from left-handed bats. Reese Chapman hit a two-run home run to center field in the first inning and Louisville transfer Gavin Kilen hit a two-run opposite field home run down the left field line.
Both players project to be major parts of Tennessee’s lineup this season. Kilen proved he could produce at a high level last season at Louisville while the junior Chapman is very talented but has lacked consistency to this point in his career.
Kilen and Chapman’s home runs each came off freshman right-handed pitcher Nic Abraham. He pitched two-plus innings and allowed three runs.
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The only other run of the scrimmage came on a Stone Lawless RBI single to left field that drove home Dean Curley. Lawless reached base on a throwing error in his other at-bat in what was a hard hit ball to third base.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Brayden Krenzel worked around trouble in his two innings pitched not to allow a run. He allowed a pair of hits, walked a batter and hit a batter but didn’t allow any runs. Krenzel got four outs on ground balls and struck out one batter. Ariel Antigua made a nice leaping catch on a Dalton Bargo liner to save a run.
Left-hander Luke Payne was the other pitcher that threw on Tuesday and he had an awesome outing. The sophomore left-handed pitcher struck out five batters in two innings pitched while allowing one baserunner on a walk.
Some notes at the plate besides the long balls. Cannon Peebles had a single up the middle, Dean Curley doubled to left field and reached base on balls while Blake Grimmer and Brooks Wright also had singles.
Talented freshman Jay Abernathy did not participate in the scrimmage due to illness. Nor did star Ole Miss transfer Andrew Fischer though I’m uncertain the reason.