Vol pitching exodus

[Orange-U-Glad]

So why are 8-9 pitchers leaving the BaseVols? I know players don’t live up to expectations,I can’t imagine they are all washouts. Or are they getting bigger payouts elsewhere?

 

[TOrange99]

the answer is two fold.

1) roster size is getting cut down so keeping arms only is no longer a viable option, so as you can see in the portal we have picked up swing guys who can pitch and bat if needed.

2) other than Dylan Loy we really haven' lost much and most likely their exiting was looking for a different role other than reliever or mid week guy or even due to #1.

 

[wku vol]

I know Lipscomb coach Jeff Forehand through some guys he played with in HS & at Belmont. He told one of them that he has contacted some of the UT players and it's his understanding that all but Loy were TV's decision. My take is that, behind the scenes, TV is deeply frustrated with the way the pitching went this year and we didn't see much development out of the 2nd tier guys. You would have to assume that Frank is 100% behind this, as well. Knowing TV's recruiting prowess, I would assume that he has a good line on replacements before pushing all of those guys out. We will see in the coming days.

 

[taylorvol]

So why are 8-9 pitchers leaving the BaseVols? I know players don’t live up to expectations,I can’t imagine they are all washouts. Or are they getting bigger payouts elsewhere?

16 pitchers have entered the portal. Some are looking for more playing time, a better fit, NIL $, and/or a chance to be a starter, etc. Some have been told that TN doesn’t have a roster spot for them.

 

[BruisedOrange]

So why are 8-9 pitchers leaving the BaseVols? I know players don’t live up to expectations,I can’t imagine they are all washouts. Or are they getting bigger payouts elsewhere?

The roster limits are putting a premium on players who can contribute in several positions, or who can pitch more innings under a variety of circumstances. This will probably result in player development shifting to the mid-major programs, whose rosters will then be raided via the portal when those players reach their potential.

Sad, IMHO.

"In NCAA Division I baseball, roster sizes are decreasing from 40 to 34 players, effective for the 2026 season. This reduction will lead to approximately 1,800 players being cut from Division I programs. This change is part of broader NCAA settlement and scholarship rule adjustments."

 

[volfan411]

the answer is two fold.

1) roster size is getting cut down so keeping arms only is no longer a viable option, so as you can see in the portal we have picked up swing guys who can pitch and bat if needed.

2) other than Dylan Loy we really haven' lost much and most likely their exiting was looking for a different role other than reliever or mid week guy or even due to #1.

I am not sure we lost that much with Loy. He had become a situational only guy who came in for a left on left match-up so we are losing maybe 15-25 pitches over a weekend series.

 

[Orange-U-Glad]

Thanks. I just had not seen any explanation. Trust CTV completely, but this caught me by surprise. I’m sure he was not pleased at our pitching last year. Hopefully, he is able to find the depth we need for a serious title run. LSU and Arky seem built for the long run.

 

[madbamahater]

Not sure what has to happen, but the pitching has to get much, much better. A total revamp

 

[wtmvol]

I am not sure we lost that much with Loy. He had become a situational only guy who came in for a left on left match-up so we are losing maybe 15-25 pitches over a weekend series.

That's a pretty important role though. Having those situational guys come into high leverage, stressful situations to prevent the crooked number inning can add several W's to your overall team record if executed correctly. Sounds like Loy wasn't content with that role, and I'm sure not many college kids are. Part of what made Kirby so special.

 

[BigOrangeCrush32]

Losing Sharman will hurt some.

 

[VOLfrombama]

At this point, I am willing to blindly trust CTV and CFA. They have earned that trust. If they wanted these guys to stay, I would imagine they wouldn't be leaving.

Loy probably wants to start, so I can't blame him if he wants to pursue that somewhere else. He never really showed he could be that guy here imo.

 

[6-4-3]

He told one of them that he has contacted some of the UT players and it's his understanding that all but Loy were TV's decision.

100% inaccurate.

 

[Vols330]

100% inaccurate.

Maybe I trust Tony too much...
Who did he want to keep and couldn't?

 

[taylorvol]

Maybe I trust Tony too much...
Who did he want to keep and couldn't?

It’s not about trusting CTV. In the age of unlimited portal transfers, NIL, and 34 man rosters, you will lose players you wanted to keep. Impossible to give everyone enough innings, at bats, etc. Plus, sometimes players just aren’t happy at UT. That’s OK and some are just better fits elsewhere.

 

[a vol n tears]

Appreciate all that these young men did, to get this year’s team to the Supers.
However I watched most every game this year and I only saw 3 pitchers that I thought would be useful come tournament time. A team has to have bullpen guys who can give you some serious innings and be dependable a high % of the time.
CTV did a great job getting this team as far as he did. He had 1 dependable power bat and 3 dependable pitchers that he could count on to be consistent. Everyone else was hit or miss.
Those teams from the past few years have spoiled me. Clutch pitching when called upon and clutch hitters In critical at bats. Let’s hope coach can recruit or portal several consistent pitchers, as I think there are several position players who have excellent futures ahead of them.

 

[CAVPUT]

It’s not about trusting CTV. In the age of unlimited portal transfers, NIL, and 34 man rosters, you will lose players you wanted to keep. Impossible to give everyone enough innings, at bats, etc. Plus, sometimes players just aren’t happy at UT. That’s OK and some are just better fits elsewhere.

They'd better be sure about their choices though. Not every coaching staff will teach them correctly or protect their futures. I'm reminded of Gossages rant about pitching in todays game. He ain't wrong.

 

[Special Ed]

The staff separating the wheat from the chaff?

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

Appreciate all that these young men did, to get this year’s team to the Supers.
However I watched most every game this year and I only saw 3 pitchers that I thought would be useful come tournament time. A team has to have bullpen guys who can give you some serious innings and be dependable a high % of the time.
CTV did a great job getting this team as far as he did. He had 1 dependable power bat and 3 dependable pitchers that he could count on to be consistent. Everyone else was hit or miss.
Those teams from the past few years have spoiled me. Clutch pitching when called upon and clutch hitters In critical at bats. Let’s hope coach can recruit or portal several consistent pitchers, as I think there are several position players who have excellent futures ahead of them.

Agreed. As the season went on, it was very clear that we had 1 very good starter, 2 that were okay to good depending on the night, followed by a big bullpen of mysteries. During our mid to late season slump, we knew that once we got into the bullpen in game 2 it got increasingly dicier from there.

 

[volfannga]

I happened to speak with someone this morning and learned the following. Between current roster and commitments we have around 85 player spots to manage. The new NCAA roster limits us to 34 in 2026. That means around 50 will have to be cut or leave via the portal. That is just an incredible loss of talent. These are not rec players but SEC caliber talent. NCAA knows how to solve a problem doesn't it.

 

[chuckiepoo]

The staff separating the wheat from the chaff?

Forced into it.

 

[taylorvol]

I happened to speak with someone this morning and learned the following. Between current roster and commitments we have around 85 player spots to manage. The new NCAA roster limits us to 34 in 2026. That means around 50 will have to be cut or leave via the portal. That is just an incredible loss of talent. These are not rec players but SEC caliber talent. NCAA knows how to solve a problem doesn't it.

Respectfully, That’s not close to being accurate. TN has 53 on the projected roster for 2026, and that’s if all of the 25 freshman commitments make it to campus (they won’t) and if all 9 of the portal commitments make it to campus.

BaseVols Roster 2025 / 2026 (Updated 6/23/25)

Player	Year	Position	Bats	26 Status
1 Dean Curley	Soph	SS, 3B	R	MLB
2 Ariel Antigua	Soph	SS, 2B, 3B	R	Roster
5 Cannon Peebles	Jr	C, DH	Switch	MLB
6 Gavin Kilen	Jr	2B, SS	Left	MLB
7 Nate Snead	Jr	RHP/Weekend Closer		MLB
8 Hunter High	Soph	UTL	Left	Roster
9 Hunter Ensley	R Sr	CF	R	Graduated/MLB
10 Jay Abernathy	Fr	CF, 2B	Left	Roster
11 Andrew Fischer	Jr	3B,1B	Left	MLB
12 Liam Doyle	Jr	LHP/Weekend Starter		MLB
13 Reese Chapman	Jr	RF	Left	MLB
14 Blake Grimmer	R Fr	3B, 1B	Left	Roster
15 Manny Marin	Fr	3B, SS, 2B	R	Roster
16 Dalton Bargo	Jr	1B,C,RF,3B,LF,DH	Left	MLB?
17 Thomas Crabtree	So	RHP		PORTAL
18 Austin Breedlove	Jr	RHP/Weekend Relief		PORTAL
19 Andrew Behnke	Jr	LHP/Weekend Relief		PORTAL
20 Colby Backus	R Sr	LF/DH	R	Graduated/Portal
21 Tegun Kuhns	Fr	RHP/Weekend Starter		Roster
23 Marcus Phillips	Jr	RHP/Weekend Starter		MLB
25 Brandon Arvidson	Jr	LHP/Weekend Relief		MLB
27 Stone Lawless	R Fr	C,1B,DH	R	Roster
28 Ryan Combs	Jr	RHP/Weekend Relief		Roster
29 Aidan Hayse	Fr	RHP		Roster
30 Levi Clark	Fr	DH,1B, C	R	Roster
31 Austin Hunley	R Soph	RHP/Weekend Relief		PORTAL
32 Tate Strickland	Fr	RHP		Roster
33 Brayden May	R Fr	LHP		PORTAL
33 AJ Russell	Jr	RHP/Weekend Relief (late March)		MLB
35 Michael Sharman	R Jr	LHP/Weekend Relief		PORTAL
37 Dylan Loy	Soph	LHP/Weekend Relief		PORTAL
38 Brooks Wright	Fr	C	R	Roster
40 Jaxon Walker	Fr	OF	Left	Roster
41 Chris Newstrom	Fr	UTL	R	Roster
42 Brennon Seigler	Fr	OF	R	Roster
43 Luke Payne	So	LHP/Weekend Relief		PORTAL
44 Nic Abraham	Fr	RHP		Roster
45 Stratton Scott	Fr	RHP		PORTAL
45 Tanner Wiggins	Soph	RHP		PORTAL
46 Brayden Sharp	R Fr	OF,LHP/Weekend Relief	Left	PORTAL
48 Robinson Martin	Fr	INF	R	PORTAL
50 Tanner Franklin	Jr	RHP/Weekend Relief		MLB
Dane Morrow	Fr	UTL	Left	Roster
Jackson Jones	Fr	1B,3B,OF	R	PORTAL
Ryler Smart**	Fr	LHP		PORTAL
Andrew Dumont**	Fr	RHP		PORTAL
Beau Revord	Fr	LF	Left	PORTAL
Anton Seibert**	Fr	RHP		Roster
Bryson Thacker	R Fr	LHP		PORTAL
Brayden Krenzel	Fr	RHP		Roster
Dane Bjorn	R Fr	LHP		PORTAL
Alberto Osuna*	Grad	1B/DH	Right	PORTAL
Ben Martin	Fr	RHP		PORTAL
Clay Edmondson	Jr	RHP		Transfer In$
Mason Estrada	Soph	RHP		Transfer In$
Bo Rhudy	Soph	RHP		Transfer In
Tyler Myatt		INF		Transfer In$
Matt Barr	Soph	RHP		Transfer In$
Brady Frederick	Soph	RHP		Transfer In
Garrett Wright		C/OF		Transfer In
DJ Newman		OF/RHP		Transfer In
Henry Ford		1B/OF		Transfer In$

NOTES:
$ = MLB draft risk for 2026 Portal commits
19 Returnees
9 Portal Transfers IN
20 Portal OUT (counting Osuna)
28 on 2026 projected Roster (Before incoming freshmen signees)
25 Incoming Freshmen Signees

if only 15 of the 25 freshmen sign with TN, that puts the projected roster at 43, which is still 9 over the 34 man limit (prior to those who would be considered grandfathered)

 

[ksgovols]

Here's a breakdown of all the roster limits set by the NCAA in the House settlement case. The good news is all athletes on rosters will be getting full rides and none of this 11.7 baloney. The bad news as baseball can attest is that the roster sizes in some sports will be cut to the tune of 13,000 lost spots. For baseball, this will put a premium on talent evaluation for P4 programs and less development going from 40+ to 34. I can see this leading to more baseball kids going pro than going with an NIL deal and taking more of a MLB approach to roster spots with a 6-7 utility guys that can play IF, OF and DH and reducing catcher opportunities to keep 16 or so arms on the roster. Double the 7 position players to 14, 3 catchers and 17 arms. This assuming a bullpen catcher is on scholarship and you're carrying a starter and a backup. More bad news is baseball players cut after fall ball can't find another DI home in January. They have to sit out a year or drop a level in competition.

New Roster Limits Set by House v. NCAA

Division I schools opting into the House settlement will no longer have scholarship limits and can fully fund scholarships up to the new roster limits.

businessofcollegesports.com

 

[volfannga]

Hope yours are right. Just sharing what someone in the AD shared.

 

[taylorvol]

Hope yours are right. Just sharing what someone in the AD shared.

I showed my work so if you look at my spreadsheet, I’m at least directionally accurate. TN wouldn‘t be at 85 EVEN if we didn’t count the 20 (including Osuna) that have entered the portal. Here’s the roster summary for 26:

19 Returnees
9 Portal Transfers IN
20 Portal OUT (counting Osuna)
28 on 2026 projected Roster (Before incoming freshmen signees)
25 Incoming Freshmen Signees

As of today, this would mean TN has 53 on projected roster IF EVERY freshmen and portal transfer makes it to campus (won’t happen due to MLB draft). If you added the 20 portal transfers out and the 12 going to MLB, you’d get to 84. Perhaps, that‘s the discrepancy your contact was discussing?

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

I think the baseball side is going to become such a mess roster-wise in a year or two that the NCAA will have no choice but to expand to 40-43 (especially after every coach in the Power 4 bitches about the changes)