While the Tennessee Volunteers are fresh off their first national championship in program history, they aren’t finished adding talent to their roster. Head coach Tony Vitello and company landed a commitment out of the transfer portal on Saturday evening: former Texas A&M and San Jacinto pitcher Brandon Arvidson.https:
The talented lefty didn’t make an appearance during his true freshman season with the Aggies and opted to transfer to the junior college ranks after earning a redshirt. He logged 108 strikeouts in 17 appearances last season, earning a 3.84 ERA. Arvidson was initially committed to the Texas Longhorns but reopened his recruitment after a recent coaching change and decided that Knoxville, Tennessee, was the right place for him.
The Vols built one of the deepest rosters college baseball has seen this past season, both on the mound and in the batter’s box. Vitello intends to maximize the championship window Tennessee is now in, and adding talent like Arvidson just continues furthering their depth for next season and beyond.
Several Tennessee Vols should hear their names called in the 2024 MLB Draft, which begins on Sunday night in Fort Worth, Texas. Perhaps as many as six Vols could hear their names called across the first three rounds.
However, according to MLB.com, three Vols could end up being selected before the second round gets underway. MLB.com writer Jim Callis recently put out a mock draft, and Christian Moore, Billy Amick, and Drew Beam were all picked the first round and supplemental picks.
Callis mocked Moore to the Boston Red Six with the 12th overall pick, which has been a popular projected landing spot for the talented Vols infielder. Next up was Billy Amick at 21 to the Minnesota Twins. As the 32nd ranked prospect, that’s a pretty good ways up there from his projection, but Amick’s power could make him enticing in that range.
After the first round concluded, Callis also predicted Beam coming off the board to the Pirates at overall pick #37 among the first-round supplemental picks. Beam has all the tools to eventually become a steady MLB starting pitcher, and the Pirates certainly could look to continue to build a rotation behind All-Star rookie Paul Skenes.
