We knew a few things for certain after Tennessee Baseball won it all in Omaha last month. We knew some big, important players were leaving the team for the MLB. Talent like Christian Moore, Blake Burke, Billy Amick and Drew Beam to name a few.
We also knew (or correctly assumed) that a winning program like the Vols’ was going to attract the attention of those players seeking greener pastures via the transfer portal. But what Tennessee has been able to obtain thus far is almost an embarrassment of riches.
Recruiting starts at the top. National Championship or not, who wouldn’t want to play for a magnanimous coach like Tony Vitello? The respect he has for his players is on display each time the team takes the field. And those players, current and former, are the best advocates for his system.
Once the College World Series ended and players from other teams began to announce their intentions to enter the portal, it was the VFLs who took to social media encouraging them to give Tennessee a look. They raved about the coach, the program, the fans. Some even said they wished they could have played in Knoxville longer.
So far, five baseball players in the portal have chosen Tennessee as their new home. And those five are very exciting prospects. With the big-time losses the Vols will suffer next season, it could have been easy to write off 2025 as a Rocky Top flop. But these new additions, coupled with the current players who remain and the incoming freshman class, all but scream a program that is poised for back-to-back championships.
Gavin Kilen (SS, Louisville)
Kilen was a huge get for Tennessee, as he was ranked the No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal. He had an impressive 2024 season with a .339 average, 76 hits, 10 home runs, 44 RBIs and 23 doubles.
Andrew Fischer (3rd base, Ole Miss)
Fischer hit 20 home runs last season for the Rebels, making him the fourth in program history to do so. He also led Ole Miss in hits (59) and RBIs (57). He is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Liam Doyle (Pitcher, Ole Miss)
Though he still has much love for Oxford, Doyle knew if he wanted to win the big prize, Tennessee was the place to be. “Tennessee right now, especially after winning the national championship, is a perfect spot,” Doyle told GoVols247. “We’re going to reload. Looking to go win a national championship.” Doyle led the Rebels with 87 strikeouts in 2024.
Eric Rataczak (1st base, Niagara)
The 23-year-old Rataczak had a very convoluted journey to Knoxville. He played club ball and even intramural softball just to keep himself in the game. Though he has committed to the Vols, he still may declare for the 2024 Draft. “What I think personally is that going and playing in the SEC and playing for Tennessee would be very, very beneficial for me for a lot of reasons,” Rataczak told Rocky Top Insider. “I don’t think it would hinder my abilities professionally. But the problem with my age is that another year older is another year less valued draft wise in the scout’s eyes.” Last season, slugger Rataczak hit .396 with 17 homers and 71 RBIs.
Tanner Franklin (Pitcher, Kennesaw State)
For Tennessee native Franklin, playing in his home state was an easy decision. He told the Knoxville News Sentinel, “It is pretty self-explanatory,” Franklin said. “You want to get in there and try and see if you can help for next year’s run.” Franklin ended 2024 with a 4-1 record and five saves for the Owls.
