Tennessee baseball is one day away from beginning its 2024 season in Texas at the Shriner’s Children Hospital Classic. We’ve previewed the Vols’ infield, outfield and pitching staff the last three days.
Today we’ll conclude our season previews by taking a look at Tennessee’s schedule and make some predictions for this season’s team.
Tennessee baseball isn’t known for playing very difficult non conference schedules under head coach Tony Vitello. And while this year’s slate isn’t extremely difficult, it is harder than it’s been in years past.
The Vols toughest weekend is their opening weekend where they’ll face Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Baylor. The Red Raiders are a preseason top 25 team and the Big 12’s coaches picked Texas Tech to finish fourth.
The coaches picked Oklahoma to tie for sixth and the Sooners are projected to be on the NCAA Tournament bubble as the season begins. Baylor is the worst team Tennessee will face the opening weekend of the season but it’s still Big 12 competition.
Tennessee has two other tests in out of conference play. The Vols host Illinois in a three-game series from March 8-10 and host Kansas State for a midweek game on March 5. The Fighting Illini are projected to be a middle of the pack Big 10 team but Wildcats should be one of the best teams in the Big 12.
The Vols host Albany and Bowling Green in their two other non conference series. Tennessee plays the usual cast of characters in midweek games including Tennessee Tech on March 26.
There’s no such thing as an easy SEC schedule and Tennessee’s slate this year is very challenging as it usually is. The Vols don’t get hit hard by the SEC West opponents they picked up but it’s more about where they play their big series.
Tennessee gets a pair of preseason top 25 teams at home, LSU and South Carolina, but they head on the road for a number of its biggest series including Auburn, Florida and Vanderbilt.
Tony Vitello’s seventh team has a manageable opening stretch of conference play with a road series at Alabama, a home series against Ole Miss and then a home series against Georgia. Tennessee’s biggest series comes two weeks later when they host defending national champs LSU at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols have two manageable weekends after LSU (at Kentucky and versus Missouri) before closing the regular season with three challenging series: at Florida, at Vanderbilt and vs. South Carolina.
Regular Season Record Prediction: 41-15 (19-11 SEC)
Team MVP
Drew Beam: There’s a bunch of different directions you could go with this one but I’m going with Beam. The Vols have a deep lineup where I don’t think one player not living up to expectations would kill the offense. But Tennessee has more questions on its pitching staff. Having one starter that shines and is consistent in SEC play would go a long way for this team. I think junior right-hander Drew Beam is that guy
Top Newcomer
Billy Amick: Amick transferred from Clemson to Tennessee this offseason after hitting .413 with 13 home runs and 68 RBIs last season. The junior will start at third base for the Vols and everything I’ve seen from him in the fall and in the preseason makes me believe he’ll live up to the hype. He’s a complete hitter who could wind up being the best bat in Tennessee’s lineup.
Home Run Leader
Christian Moore: There’s a case to be made for a number of guys in this spot but I’ll go with Tennessee’s returning home run leader. The middle infielder hit 17 home runs last season which was one away from the team high. After a full season in the middle of a SEC lineup there’s even more reasons for optimism for Moore. I’ll predict that the Brooklyn native hits 20 long balls and just edges out Amick and Blake Burke.
Weekend Starters
AJ Russell, Drew Beam, AJ Causey
Russell and Beam are obvious. I’m really not sure who the third starting pitcher is going to be. The Vols will likely use a number of pitchers in that role this season and they’ll likely serve more as an opener who is trying to go through the lineup two times.
Nate Snead may be the next most talented pitcher but I think he’s best utilized out of the bullpen. Zander Sechrist is another possible option as is freshman Derek Schaefer. But Causey is my pick. He has weekend starting experience at Jacksonville State which helps.
Top Bullpen Arm
Nate Snead: This is where I think Wichita State transfer Nate Snead factors in. He has a high-90s fastball that makes him a strong option in the backend of the bullpen. He can also be stretched out as a long reliever that Tennessee can use in a number of different ways.
Breakout Bat
Dylan Dreiling: Tennessee’s left fielder just edged out right fielder Kavares Tears for this prediction. The sophomore left-handed bat was Tennessee’s best bat out of the dugout last season. He was already a very mature hitter as a freshman and that makes him feel like more of a sure thing and an obvious top of the lineup bat.
Breakout Arm
Aaron Combs: Combs had a limited role out of Tennessee’s bullpen last season, posting a 4-0 record and 3.00 ERA in 21 innings pitched as a sophomore last season. Now as a junior in a less crowded bullpen, Combs should be one of the Vols’ top arms out of the bullpen. I believe he’ll be one of Tennessee’s best arms and a reliable bullpen piece.
A Bold Prediction
Kavares Tears hits 15-plus home runs: Tears enters his redshirt sophomore season with two total career home runs and 17 total hits. But I think he’s going to be one of the breakout stars on this team. I believe he’ll start in either right field or as the designated hitter. Watch out if you’re in the Tennessee bullpen.
