Tony Vitello’s walk from his car to his office at Lindsey Nelson Stadium doesn’t take more than a few minutes.
But that’s long enough for the Tennessee baseball coach to take stock of how he feels — and this feelings are steady these days. Vitello really likes going to work with this Vols team.
“It’s kind of a fun, let’s just see where this thing can go and how much fun we can have with it,” Vitello said.
Tennessee is coming off a three-year run that featured a 57-win season sandwiched by two College World Series trips. It has gone through the prove-it phase, the rising chapter and national spotlight era in Vitello’s first six seasons.
It’s somewhere new now.
That’s part of what Vitello likes so much. This Vols team won’t have outlandish outside expectations slapped on it going into the season. He expects Tennessee will be good again. It might be good because the sum of its parts eclipses players’ individual capabilities. It might be good because the players are on the same page, like each other and work hard.
It might be six months away from being good and that’s fine with Vitello as the Vols leave fall baseball behind and barrel toward the 2024 season.
“We have a lot of room to get better,” Vitello said. “We also have a lot of unanswered questions that they need to be the ones to answer — not the coaches.”
Cannon Peebles and the Tennessee baseball transfers bats
Cannon Peebles is as competitive as any player UT has had in Vitello’s estimation. But the North Carolina State transfer pairs that competitiveness with a willingness to listen. He is receptive to input from returning catchers Cal Stark and Charlie Taylor.
“There’s a good combination of humility there, but also certainly plenty of confidence out of those guys,” Vitello said.
Those guys are Peebles, Billy Amick and Dalton Bargo. All three hitters transferred to Tennessee and are likely staples of the lineup. Peebles was an All-ACC freshman last season. The switch-hitting catcher led Tennessee in quality at-bats through the fall. Amick is a slugging third baseman who transferred from Clemson. Bargo, a Missouri transfer, is a play-anywhere hitter who was as good as anyone as Tennessee wrapped up fall baseball.
“I think all these guys just want to get better and they want to win,” Vitello said.
Bargo’s possible spots include the outfielder, where UT returns Hunter Ensley as a starter. Dylan Dreiling, Reese Chapman and Kavares Tears are outfield options.
Blake Burke is better than ever and Christian Moore is proving it
First baseman Blake Burke and infielder Christian Moore are largely known commodities, but both spent the offseason and fall proving themselves.
Vitello pointed to Burke making a baserunning leap after he was often replaced with a pinch-runner last season. He set out to be irreplaceable, learning to play outfield and improving in all areas. He ranked behind only Peebles in quality at-bats through the fall.
“I just think he’s really ambitious about being a better in every category,” Vitello said.
Moore might be Tennessee’s starting shortstop. At the very least, the junior proved he can play it at a professional level to scouts — and the Vols. Whether he holds the spot is another matter. Tennessee is still searching for its best infield combination. Junior college transfers Bradke Lohry and Alex Perry can play shortstop. So can confident freshman Ariel Antigua.
But Moore, who started at second base last season and can play in the outfield, established he’s good enough to do it.
Amick is expected to be Tennessee’s third baseman. Zane Denton, who had a clutch three-run homer at Clemson in the regional, was not with the Vols during fall baseball.
Drew Beam and a whole bunch of pitching possibilities
Drew Beam is the anchor for Tennessee’s new pitching staff. The junior attacked the fall like a newcomer, Vitello believed, and was business-like throughout.
“He’s kind of boring in a good way,” Vitello said.
Beam is the one certain pitching piece. Sophomore A.J. Russell is expected to slot into one of the starting spots. Senior Zander Sechrist could be one. The Vols have looked at returners Aaron Combs and Wyatt Evans as possible starters. Vitello thinks Combs is “too valuable in the bullpen” to pitch elsewhere as he is a reliable high-leverage moment pitcher.
The Vols would like four starters and feel like they have two heading into the winter. Vitello likes that, believing there is no better incentive than the idea that no one has a guaranteed role but every pitcher can see a role within their grasp.
Kirby Connell and Andrew Behnke are top lefty relievers.
“I think there’s a lot of guys who can raise their hand in a meeting (for a role) and us not call them out for being foolish or being overly confident,” Vitello said.
Could a newcomer take hold of a pitching starting spot?
Tennessee added three transfers with starting experience who could fill any role for the Vols.
Senior Chris Stamos did it all at Cal. He could be a left-handed bullpen arm or start. Jacksonville State transfer A.J. Causey could close or starter, bringing a low-slot delivery to mix up Tennessee’s options.
BEAM:Why does Drew Beam wear a purple glove for Tennessee baseball?
Wichita State transfer Nate Snead can touch 100 mph and has a high ceiling.
“I don’t think there’s anything out of the realm of possibility for him,” Vitello said
The Vols will likely get contributions from newcomers Marcus Phillips, Brayden Sharp, Derek Schaefer and Dylan Loy out of the bullpen. Phillips hit 98 mph during the fall. Schaefer has a mature approach. Loy, who played at Pigeon Forge, throws a lot of strikes and Sharp is a future two-way candidate. Matthew Dallas, one of the top signees in UT’s class, did not pitch in the fall but has returned to the mound.
“I think we’ve got a lot of guys that are accepting of roles or will be accepting of roles,” Vitello said.
