Roster turnover is nothing new for Tony Vitello and going into the 2025 season is no exception. The 2024 team was special, bringing home Tennessee’s first ever national championship. However, with that level of top tier talent comes a lot of players leaving for the MLB draft or graduation. The Vols lost eight players to the draft, five graduated, and seven more left via the transfer portal. The Vols had to replace six guys in the lineup as well as the entire weekend rotation and multiple key bullpen pieces going into 2025. However, Tony Vitello wasted no time bringing in more elite talent. Vitello came out swinging in the portal landing a handful of top prospects to pair with the number one high school class in the country, according to Perfect Game. Tennessee fans will have their work cut out to learn all of these new names and faces, but the talent on this roster rivals that of any team that has ever taken the field in Knoxville.
Here are some notable newcomers to the Tennessee baseball program:
3B Andrew Fischer (Junior) - Transfer from Ole Miss
Andrew Fischer brings a proven track record of power to Knoxville after successful stints at Duke and Ole Miss. Fischer was a Freshman All-American in 2023 with Duke. He posted an impressive .289/.405/.595 slash line along with 11 homers and 33 RBI. After transferring to Ole Miss for the 2024 season, Fischer followed up his impressive freshman year with an even better sophomore season. At Ole Miss, Fischer slashed .285/.397/.643 with 20 home runs and 57 RBI, earning a spot on the All-SEC Second Team. Now at his third school in three years, Fischer expects to be a key piece in the middle of the Vols lineup. With 20+ home run potential and the ability to play both corner infield spots, Fischer was a massive addition in the offseason for a team that lost a lot of production from 2024. Expect to see Fischer as the everyday third baseman for Vitello.
2B/SS Gavin Kilen (Junior) - Transfer from Louisville
Gavin Kilen joins Tennessee as one of the top breakout stars from the ACC in 2024. In his sophomore season at Louisville, Kilen hit .330/.361/.591 with 9 homers and 57 RBI, earning Third-Team All-ACC honors. Kilen was a former top prospect out of high school in Wisconsin, ranking as the number 55 player in his class and the number 9 shortstop. Kilen is a speed threat and a very good contact hitter with solid pop from the left side. Kilen will likely play second base for Vitello, but he is a natural shortstop who played 54 games at short for Louisville in 2024. Kilen projects to be a top of the order bat, possibly the leadoff hitter, in a dangerous Vols lineup.
LHP Liam Doyle (Junior) - Transfer from Ole Miss
Liam Doyle has also transferred to Tennessee via Ole Miss. Doyle started his collegiate career in 2023 at Coastal Carolina. In his freshman season he racked up 69 punch outs in 56.1 innings pitched to pair with a 4.15 ERA. At Ole Miss in 2024, Doyle continued to rack up strikeouts with 84 in just 55 innings. Doyle has struggled at times with giving up more runs than one would expect from a pitcher of his caliber, however he has now spent an entire offseason working with one of the best pitching coaches in the country in Frank Anderson. Expect Doyle to be a weekend starter for the Vols and he is one to watch for a potential breakout.
1B/DH Alberto Osuna (Senior) - Transfer from North Carolina
Alberto Osuna is a very late addition to the Vols roster, joining the program on February 1st. Osuna was originally ruled to be out of eligibility after last season at UNC, but was allowed to transfer to the University of Tampa, a Division II program, because of the rules surrounding junior college eligibility. However, after Vanderbilt QB, Diego Pavia, won a court ruling against the NCAA to grant eligibility back to junior college athletes, Osuna now has one more year. Osuna is a big time bat that will most likely contribute as a DH in the middle of the order for the Vols. Last season at UNC, he hit .281/.376/.537 with 14 home runs. Osuna being added to the roster just two weeks before opening day makes for an interesting end to the 1B and DH competitions that have been ongoing since the fall. At this moment, the NCAA is still holding up the paperwork to officially clear Osuna to play.
RHP Tanner Franklin (Junior) - Transfer from Kennesaw State
Hometown flamethrower Tanner Franklin brings an electrifying fastball to Tennessee’s bullpen, regularly touching 99 mph. The Jefferson City native showed flashes of dominance in his sophomore season at Kennesaw State, recording 43 strikeouts in 27.1 innings, though his 5.60 ERA highlighted the need for improved command and secondary offerings. A potential game-changer in late-inning situations, Franklin’s raw ability draws comparisons to current Vol pitcher Marcus Phillips. With Franklin’s upside, he could develop into one of Tennessee’s most reliable bullpen arms down the road.
LHP Brandon Arvidson - JUCO Transfer from San Jacinto JC
Brandon Arvidson comes to Tennessee after a dominant season at San Jacinto JC, where he led the NJCAA with a staggering 15.93 K/9. Arvidson, who started his college career at Texas A&M, posted a 3.84 ERA over 61 innings with 108 strikeouts in 2024. With four years of eligibility remaining and draft eligibility this season, the lefty is a strong candidate for a weekend rotation spot. His elite strikeout ability and untapped potential make him a key arm to watch in the Vols’ pitching staff.
RHP Austin Breedlove - JUCO Transfer from Cleveland State CC
Austin Breedlove brings an electric five-pitch mix to the Tennessee staff after an impressive stint at Cleveland State CC. In 2024, Breedlove finished third in the NJCAA with 123 strikeouts over 82 innings, posting a 4.39 ERA. Known for his plus offerings and advanced stuff, he has the versatility to serve as either a weekend starter or a bullpen weapon.
LHP Michael Sharman - JUCO Transfer from Georgia Highlands CC
Michael Sharman overcame a torn ACL in 2023 to deliver a strong season for Georgia Highlands CC in 2024. The lefty features an upper-80s fastball that flashes low-90s and draws comparisons to former Vol, Zander Sechrist. Sharman’s resilience and ability to command the strike zone make him a valuable addition to the Vols’ pitching depth.
RHP Tanner Wiggins - JUCO Transfer from Weatherford College
Tanner Wiggins enters the Vols’ bullpen as one of the most dominant closers in the NJCAA last season. Wiggins posted a 1.40 ERA across 25.2 innings with 26 strikeouts and eight saves in 2024 while showcasing a fastball that flashes 98 mph. His ability to shut down games could make him a key late-inning option for Tennessee, and his high-octane arsenal could translate into a major role in high-leverage appearances.
RHP Thomas Crabtree - JUCO Transfer from Pearl River CC
Hailing from Collierville, TN, Thomas Crabtree brings a well-rounded arsenal to the Vols after a strong season at Pearl River CC. In 2024, Crabtree posted a 2.96 ERA over 76 innings, striking out 105 batters while relying on a low-90s fastball and a sharp 12-6 curveball. Though he is likely to begin his Tennessee career in the bullpen, his potential as a future starter gives the coaching staff flexibility and a long-term asset on the mound.
RHP Ryan Combs - JUCO Transfer from Polk State College
Ryan Combs, the younger brother of former Vol Aaron Combs, brings intriguing upside to Tennessee’s staff. At 6’3” and 155 pounds, Combs is a lanky right-hander who is still developing his frame and mechanics. While his ERA hovered in the mid-5.00s over the past two seasons, he did strike out 71 batters in 56.1 innings in 2023 and 30 in 27.1 innings in 2024. Combs will have time to grow into his potential and refine his command under Frank Anderson and the rest of the Vols staff.
SS/OF Arnold Abernathy - North Cobb, GA
Arnold Abernathy is currently expected to contribute from day one as a true freshman. There is an open spot in left field that looks to be Abernathy’s job to lose. He was the number 61 player in the 2024 class according to Perfect Game, and he is one of the best middle infielders to commit to Tennessee. Abernathy has a lot of versatility and can play almost any position with his speed and quickness on defense. He has great hand eye coordination and an ability to barrel up baseballs that projects extremely well for his future in the SEC and as a pro.
RHP Anson Seibert - Overland Park, KS
Seibert will likely redshirt his freshman year as he is recovering from an arm injury during his senior year of high school. According to Perfect Game, Seibert was the 35th ranked player in his class and 8th ranked RHP in the country. Seibert was drafted in the 16th round by the Detroit Tigers but decided that he wanted to play for the Vols instead of going pro out of high school. Seibert boasts a mid 90s fastball with plenty of upside and projectability at 6’8” and 220 lbs.
RHP Tegan Kuhns - Gettysburg, PA
Tegan Kuhns also passed on the draft to come to Tennessee and pitch for the Vols. He was a top 100 prospect in the 2024 MLB Draft, according to MLB.com. Kuhns can run his fastball up in the mid 90s and pairs it with a very high upside slider. Kuhns is a very projectable pitcher at 6’4” and just 177 lbs when he got to campus. Expect to see him add some weight and some velocity under Frank Anderson over the next couple years. Kuhns is one of a few pitchers that are fighting for a weekend starter role on this very deep Tennessee pitching staff.