Tennessee baseball is a day away from opening up its 2025 season at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Over the last few days, we’ve previewed Tennessee’s infield, outfield and pitching staff.
Today, we conclude our season previews with some fun stuff, season record and accolades predictions.
Season Prediction
Let’s start by taking a look at Tennessee’s schedule. In non conference play, Tennessee again plays a pretty manageable schedule. They have a tough weekend in Texas where they’ll a pair of preseason top 25 teams in Oklahoma State and Arizona in addition to Rice.
But besides that, it’s a very manageable slate. Tennessee typically plays one additional weekend against a solid team or a couple strong mid week games. Unless Samford has a big season, that won’t be the case this year.
The SEC is the SEC. It’s going to be very difficult. Tennessee has a nice blend of tough home and away series. They get two of their easier SEC series (Ole Miss and South Carolina) on the road too. That should help.
I don’t expect Tennessee to face a drop off like they did in 2023 but I don’t think the Vols will be the best team in the country either.
Regular Season Record Prediction: 43-13 (19-11 SEC)
Accolades
Team MVP
Dean Curley: Tennessee has multiple candidates here but I think Curley is the ultimate blend guy that will do a lot well for this team. The sophomore will hit for average and power and I think he’ll do it in the leadoff spot. He’s my pick to ultimately win the shortstop job and is one of the top leaders on this team. He might not lead Tennessee in a single statistical category but he’ll be near the top in a lot.
Top Newcomer
Liam Doyle: Tennessee went out and landed Doyle in the transfer portal this offseason after his lone year at Ole Miss. He’s going to be Tennessee’s Friday night starting pitcher and I think will have a fantastic year. The Vols have other transfers that are going to be really good but Doyle is my pick to lead the way.
Home Run
Andrew Fischer: Speaking of Ole Miss transfers, Fischer hit 20 home runs for the Rebels last season and absolutely raked for Tennessee in the fall. Fischer hits 25-plus bombs this season and is a force in the middle of the Vols’ lineup.
Batting Average Leader
Gavin Kilen: Another big time transfer, Kilen came to Tennessee this offseason after hitting .330 with 35 extra-base hits as a sophomore for the Cardinals last season. This fall and preseason, Kilen had an abundance of quiet two-hit performances. He strikes out little and records a ton of hits.
Weekend Starters
Liam Doyle, Marcus Phillips, Tegan Kuhns
Doyle is no doubt Tennessee’s Friday night guy and Marcus Phillips will begin the season as the Saturday starter. I don’t think it’s a lock that Phillips holds onto that spot but we’ll assume that he does. So who wins the Sunday spot? There’s a number of options here but I think the two most likely options are sophomore LHP Dylan Loy and freshman RHP Tegan Kuhns. Loy has a higher floor and Kuhns a higher ceiling. I’ll go with the high ceiling and take the talented freshman.
Top Bullpen Arm
Nate Snead:
Snead was Tennessee’s top bullpen arm a season ago and while there’s a chance he starts, I think he ends up in the bullpen again. If Snead is back in the bullpen, I think he’ll be the best guy and will eat an abundance of innings.
Breakout Bat
Cannon Peebles: Peebles transferred from NC State to Tennessee last season with high expectations but struggled in 2024 with Cal Stark eventually beating him out for the starting job. But Peebles was good as a DH and pinch hitter down the stretch of the season and followed it up with a strong offseason. Peebles has a breakout year and looks like the guy people expected last year.
Breakout Arm
Dylan Loy: I mentioned earlier that Loy is a candidate to be a weekend starter. But whether he ends up in that role or a bullpen role, Loy is going to be one of Tennessee’s most dependable arms this season. He’s not going to overwhelm anybody with his stuff but he knows how to pitch and will be a rock in Tennessee’s staff all season.
X-Factor
AJ Russell: Remember AJ Russell? The highly talented right hander was Tennessee’s Opening Day starter last season before an arm injury kept him out of the fold for much of the season. Tennessee expects him back by the middle of the season and if he’s throwing it like he did before the injury than Tennessee is going to add one of the most talented arms in the country to its staff.
A Bold Prediction
Liam Doyle wins SEC Pitcher of the Year: This is how high I am on Doyle. I’m picking him to be the SEC Pitcher of the Year. Texas A&M ace Ryan Pragner turned down the Angels selection of him in the third round to return to College Station and is the preseason favorite. But I’m riding with Doyle.
