Happy game week. Tennessee baseball opens up its 2025 season on Friday night when they host Hofstra in a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Each day this week we’ll release a new season preview to get you ready for the season.
We started with the infield yesterday and move on to the outfield today with a group that is relatively set in stone entering the season.
Let’s dive in.
More From RTI: FAQs About Tennessee Baseball’s Renovations for Lindsey Nelson Stadium Ahead of the Season
What We Know
The Starters At Right And Centerfield
Reese Chapman will start for Tennessee in right field and Hunter Ensley will start for Tennessee in center field. And unlike a lot of positions, there will not be tinkering here early in the season.
If Ensley and Chapman are not starting for Tennessee when SEC play begins it will be a major surprise and because one of them struggled badly in non conference play.
Hunter Ensley Is The Face And Leader Of This Team
Ensley is not only Tennessee’s starting center fielder but he is the face and the leader of this team. He is one of two starting position players from last season’s National Championship team. Ensley made the catch crashing into the wall. He had the acrobatic slide at home to score the game winning run in the National Championship game.
Tennessee has players better than Ensley and they have other leaders. But Ensley is the face of the team and he is the main leader.
Questions Entering The Season
Who Wins The Left Field Battle?
With Ensley and Chapman locked into center and left field respectively, Tennessee’s only open spot in the outfield is left field.
Freshman Jay Abernathy and veteran Colby Backus are the top candidates to earn the job. Both will get opportunities early in the season but it would surprise me if Abernathy doesn’t end up winning the job.
Fringe options include sophomore Hunter High and freshmen Manny Marin and Levi Clark. Marin and Clark are not natural outfielders but they have the talent at the plate and the ability to figure it out in the corner of the outfield.
Does Reese Chapman Run With His Opportunity?
Tennessee has a long line of players inside its program having marginal roles one season and then becoming stars the next season. Just last year both Dylan Dreiling and Kavares Tears did it in the outfield. Trey Lipscomb and Jorel Ortega have done it in the infield.
Reese Chapman has the talent and ability to be that guy after hitting .274 and se home runs as a part time designated hitter last season. But consistency has eluded Chapman in the preseason and fall. One day he records multiple hits and goes deep. The next day he strikes out three times.
Because of that, Chapman is one of my top x-factors for Tennessee. I could see his season going in a number of directions.
What Level Of Production Does Ensley Give Tennessee?
Ensley is a for sure starter and the leader of the team. But what will his production look like this season? Last year, Ensley struggled for much of the season until turning things around at Florida.
But the final three weeks of the regular season and the postseason, Ensley was as good as any hitter in the Tennessee lineup.
So what Ensley does Tennessee get this season? The truth is almost certainly in the middle. For me it boils down to one question— will he be good enough to hit in the three-hole? That’s where Tennessee had him in the “pizza series.” If he’s good enough to be in the three-hole then this offense could be special again.
If not, Ensley could slide to the five-hole, Tennessee could have a strong lineup and Ensley a nice year. It just won’t have quite the explosiveness.
