Tennessee Volunteers Baseball Best Players of All Time

Kevin Smith

The Tennessee Volunteers baseball team is one of the most successful collegiate programs in the nation. Since its establishment in the late 19th century, the Volunteers have won numerous SEC Championships and advanced to the College World Series multiple times.

The team has seen its fair share of legendary players, including Todd Helton, Dave Dravecky, and Lance Pendleton. Every year, fans of the Volunteers flock to Lindsey Nelson Stadium to cheer on their team. With a proud history, exciting atmosphere, and a winning tradition, the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team is a great choice for anyone looking for a thrilling game experience.

Table of Contents

1. Nick Senzel

Outfielder

Nick Senzel

Nick Senzel is a talented center fielder for the Cincinnati Reds. He was drafted by the Reds in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft and has since made an impact on their roster.

In 2019, he finished fifth in National League MVP voting and led the league with 39 home runs during the regular season. 

His impressive stats have continued into postseason play, where he has hit .333 with two home runs and three RBIs so far in six games played. Nick Senzel is a hard-hitting player who can contribute offensively both at bat and on defense, making him an important part of any team’s lineup or rotation.

Nick Senzel was drafted in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. Nick Senzel is a talented outfielder and has high potential as he continues to develop his skills in the game.

Nick Senzel has already had success at the minor league level and is looking forward to continue making an impact for Cincinnati in upcoming seasons. 

Nick Senzel will need to work on his batting average, home runs, and RBIs if he wants to make an impact on the big stage but overall he is a very exciting player to watch progress through baseball's developmental stages.

Also Played For: cincinnati reds

2. Todd Helton

Colorado Rockies

Todd Helton Career

  • 5× All-Star (2000–2004), 3× Gold Glove Award (2001, 2002, 2004), 4× Silver Slugger Award (2000–2003), NL Hank Aaron Award (2000), MLB batting champion (2000), MLB RBI leader (2000), Dick Howser Trophy (1995), Colorado Rockies No. 17 retired

Todd Helton is a first baseman who has played in the MLB for over 20 years. He's had some great seasons with the Colorado Rockies, but his best came in 2013 when he hit .316 with 38 home runs and 110 RBIs.

Todd was born on August 20th, 1973, in Knoxville, Tennessee. As a youngster he loved playing baseball and started to show promise at an early age. In 1997 Todd made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies and it wasn't long before he became one of their main players.

His best season came in 2003 when he hit 37 home runs and led the league in batting average (.338). 

Todd has won three gold medals during his career - as part of Team USA at the Olympics twice (2004 & 2008) and also at World Baseball Classic (2006). He also helped lead Team USA to victory at the 2007 World Cup tournament.

Outside of baseball Todd enjoys spending time with family and friends, going fishing trips, hunting deer, riding motorcycles.

Also Played For: colorado rockies

3. Jordan Beck

Jordan Beck was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Jordan Beck is an outfielder and has played for both Team USA and Italy's national team in international play.

Jordan Beck had a breakout season in 2017, hitting .288 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 126 games between High-A Lancaster and Double-A Hartford. Injuries have limited him to just 131 games over the past two seasons, but he still produced at a high level offensively despite not playing full time.

With his ability to hit for average as well as power, Jordan Beck is one of most promising young players in baseball today Jordan is a hard working young man who has always put his family first. 

Jordan loves spending time outdoors and playing sports, especially baseball. Jordan is an excellent student and often gets top grades in school despite being active in extracurricular activities.

Jordan is loyal to those he cares about and will do anything to help them out, even if it means sacrificing his own safety or comfort. Jordan has a strong sense of morality and values the importance of taking care of others, even at great personal sacrifice for himself. 

Despite his many admirable qualities, there are still some things that makeJordan "different" than most people - something that makes him all the more special in our eyes.

Also Played For: college baseball

4. Blade Tidwell

Blade Tidwell is a young pitcher for the New York Mets. He was drafted in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft and has already made some impressive strides on the mound.

Tidwell stands at 6'3'' and weighs 215 pounds, making him an imposing figure on the field. His fastball can reach up to 95 mph, so he will need to work on his control if he wants to be successful in professional baseball.

Tidwell has shown flashes of brilliance during his rookie season with the Mets, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. If he continues to develop at his current rate, he could soon become one of Major League Baseball's best pitchers Blade Tidwell is a pitcher for the Columbia Athletics.

Blade was drafted out of high school in the 2nd round by the Houston Astros, but he decided to attend college at Vanderbilt instead. After two years at Vanderbilt, Blade was drafted again this year by the Atlanta Braves and signed with them immediately afterwards. 

Blade has been very impressive so far in his rookie season - posting a 3-0 record with a 0.93 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched overall (16 Innings as a starter). His biggest strength seems to be his ability to get ahead of hitters early in games, which allows him to challenge them without giving away too many strikes later on.

He's also shown good control throughout his career thus far despite being relatively new to pitching professionally himself.

5. Drew Gilbert

Houston Astros

Drew Gilbert is an outfielder for the Houston Astros. He was born on September 27, 2000 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Gilbert attended college at Louisiana State University and played baseball there before being drafted by the Astros in 2017.

Gilbert has made a big impact with the Astros since being called up to the Major Leagues in 2018, hitting .297 with six home runs and 28 RBIs thus far this season. 

Gilbert is considered a young player still developing his skills so fans can expect even more from him as he continues to play professionally throughout his career.

Drew Gilbert is a left-handed pitcher who has played for the St. Paul Saints in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2007 but did not make it to Major League Baseball, instead playing for several independent teams before signing with the Saints this season. 

Gilbert's fastball reaches 97 mph and he mixes his pitches well, relying on his slider and changeup to keep hitters off balance. The 23 year old is currently 8th in ERA among all AAGPBL pitchers with a 2.57 mark, earning him an invite to attend MLB's annual scouting combine next month.

6. Chase Dollander

Career

  • SEC Pitcher of the Year (2022)

Chase Dollander is a 21-year-old pitcher for the Tennessee Volunteers. He has yet to play in a major league game, but scouts believe he has the potential to develop into an elite pitcher.

Chase attended Evans High School in Georgia and played college baseball at the University of Tennessee. In his freshman year, he was named SEC Pitcher of the Year after posting a 3.06 ERA with 155 strikeouts in 109 innings pitched.

As a sophomore, Chase posted an even better stat line: 2nd team All American, 1st team SEC; led UT with 153 strikeouts while finishing second on the team with 179 hits allowed; also finished 4th in voting for MVP award (behind teammate Josh Hader).

In 2018 as a junior, Chase had another solid season statistically (1stteam All American selection by Baseball America), although it ended prematurely due to injury – he missed most of May and June due to inflammation in his pitching arm and then underwent Tommy John surgery later that month.

After recovering from surgery, Chase returned to pitch for UT's bullpen during their College World Series run where he helped lead them all the way to victory against LSU – becoming only the third player ever (and first since 1983) to win two CWS titles.

Chase is considered one of college baseball's top prospects heading into 2019 and will likely be drafted early next year if he chooses notto enterthe MLB draft following graduation.

7. J. P. Arencibia

Catcher

J. P. Arencibia

J. P. Arencibia was born on January 5, 1986 in Miami, Florida and is a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his MLB debut in 2007 with the New York Mets and has since played for the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Blue Jays and now Toronto again.

In 2011 he won silver medals with Team USA at the World Baseball Classic tournament and also hit .297 that year with 22 home runs in 125 games played. 

He is married to Liza Gaudette who he met while playing baseball together in Canada (they were both members of the Montreal Expos organization).

They have two children; daughter Harper Rose Arencibia-Gaudette (born July 21st 2013) and son Jaxon Reese Arencibia (born November 16th 2015). JPA currently plays for Torontos affiliate Buffalo Bisons where he has been batting .251 this season.

Also Played For: durham bulls

8. Tony Vitello

Career

  • 2000–2002: Missouri
  • Position(s): Infielder
  • 2003–2010: Missouri (asst.)
  • 2011–2013: TCU (asst.)
  • 2014–2017: Arkansas (asst.)
  • 2018–present: Tennessee

Tony Vitello is in his fourth season as head coach of Tennessee and has led the team to three SEC championships. Vitello played infielder for Missouri from 2000-2002 and was an assistant coach at TCU from 2003-2010.

In his first season at Tennessee, Vitello led the team to a SEC West Division title. In 2018, Vitello led the team to their first SEC championship in school history. Vitello was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1978. He attended the University of Missouri where he played infielder for the Missouri Tigers.

Vitello was named head coach of Tennessee in January of 2018. Tony Vitello is a successful coach and has won three SEC championships with Tennessee. 

Tony Vitello is the current head coach of the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team. He has led the Tigers to success both in the SEC and nationally, winning two SEC Eastern Division championships and one SEC Tournament Championship.

Vitello has also been recognized as a national coach of the year in both 2021 and 2022. He is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the American Basketball Coaches Association (ABCA). Vitello was born in Staten Island, New York, in 1984. 

He played college basketball at Boston College, where he was a two-time All-American. After graduating from BC, Vitello spent two seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater. He was then named head coach of the Auburn Tigers in 2018.

9. Ben Joyce

Ben Joyce is a young pitcher who is currently playing for the Los Angeles Angels. Ben Joyce was born on September 17, 2000 in British Columbia, Canada. Ben Joyce has a fastball that can reach upwards of 100 mph.

Ben Joyce has made an impact on the baseball world since he was drafted in the first round of the 2019 MLB draft. Ben Joyce is a young pitcher with a lot of potential and is looking to improve his skills in the future.

Ben Joyce is a pitcher for the Knoxville Tigers in the collegiate summer baseball league. Ben Joyce was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 2014 MLB Draft. Ben Joyce was the Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 15th.

Ben Joyce is a right-handed pitcher who has a fastball that reaches the high 90's and a slider. Ben Joyce was named to the Southern League Mid-Season All-Star team. 

Ben Joyce is averaging 11 strikeouts per nine innings pitched this season. Ben Joyce is a freshman at the University of Tennessee.

Ben Joyce is a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Ben Joyce is the son of former major league pitcher, Rick Joyce.

10. Chase Burns

Burns is a pitcher for the Tennessee Volunteers and was a first-team All-SEC selection in his sophomore year. He has a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and a slider that is his best pitch.

Burns was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He has had a successful career in college, with a record of 35-14. Burns is likely to start the 2018 season with the Red Sox' minor league affiliates before making his MLB debut later in the year.

Chase Burns is a right-handed pitcher who has spent most of his career playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Burns was drafted by the Rays in the fifth round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Burns made his big league debut with Tampa Bay in 2013. Burns has pitched in the MLB playoffs twice, both times with the Rays.

Burns is a two-time all-star and has won two Cy Young Awards. Burns is entering the final year of his contract with the Rays. Burns is 38 years old. Burns is married and has two children. 

Chase Burns is a dominant pitcher who has been a huge part of the Tampa Bay Rays for the past decade.

11. Christin Stewart

Erie SeaWolves

Christin Stewart

Christin Stewart is a 29-year-old outfielder who is currently a free agent. Stewart was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft.

Stewart made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2013. Stewart played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Erie SeaWolves in 2017. Stewart is a left-handed hitter and right-handed pitcher.

Stewart is a career .271 hitter with 133 home runs and 556 RBI in 1,069 games. Stewart is a four-time All-Star and has won two Gold Glove Awards. Stewart is a member of the United States national team. Stewart is married and has three children.

Christin Stewart made her MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers in 2018. Christin Stewart is a right-handed hitter and has played in the outfield and at first base in her career. Christin Stewart has hit 15 home runs in her career and has batted .225 overall.

Christin Stewart has 59 runs batted in in her career and is averaging almost one RBI per game. Christin Stewart is a versatile player, having played in the outfield, at first base, and second base in her career. 

Christin Stewart is in her fourth MLB season and is likely to continue to play for the Detroit Tigers for the next few years.

Christin Stewart is a hard-working player and is always looking to improve her skills. Christin Stewart is a happy and friendly person who enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Christin Stewart is an inspirational player and is an excellent role model for young athletes.

12. Drew Steckenrider

Seattle Mariners

Drew Steckenrider

Drew Steckenrider is a free agent pitcher who last played with the Miami Marlins in 2018. Steckenrider attended Auburn University and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth round of the 2010 MLB draft.

Steckenrider made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 2013 and spent the next four seasons with the team. Steckenrider was traded to the Miami Marlins in July of 2018 and went on to make seven appearances for the team.

Steckenrider is a right-handed pitcher with a 3.92 ERA in 119 career MLB appearances. 

Steckenrider is currently a free agent and is likely to be signed by another MLB team in the near future. Steckenrider is a hard-throwing pitcher who relies on his command and control to be successful.

Steckenrider is a veteran pitcher who has plenty of experience in the MLB and is likely to be a valuable addition to any team he signs with. Drew Steckenrider is a talented pitcher who is likely to be a valuable commodity on the open market in the future.

13. Alan Cockrell

Cockrell was a hard-hitting outfielder who played for the Colorado Rockies from 1996-1996. Cockrell was a member of the 1996 Colorado Rockies World Series team.

After his MLB career, Cockrell became a hitting coach for the Rockies. Cockrell was born in Kansas City, Kansas on December 5, 1962. Cockrell attended Wichita State University and played for the Shockers from 1981-1985.

After his playing career, Cockrell became a hitting coach for the Rockies. Cockrell was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 9th round of the 1985 MLB Draft. 

Cockrell is now a hitting coach for the Tampa Bay Rays. Cockrell played for the Colorado Rockies from 1996-2002 and was then hired as a coach for the Seattle Mariners from 2009-2010.

In 2002, Cockrell hit for the cycle against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2007, Cockrell was the interim manager for the Rockies and led them to a playoff berth. 

In 2008, Cockrell was fired as manager of the Mariners after leading them to a 73-89 record. In 2015, Cockrell was hired as the new manager of the New York Yankees and led them to the playoffs in his first season.

In 2017, Cockrell was fired as manager of the Yankees after a poor season. Cockrell is a career .250 hitter with 2 home runs and 2 RBIs. 

Cockrell is a former third baseman who played for the Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners. Alan Cockrell is currently a coach with the Seattle Mariners.

14. Hunter Lane

Hunter Lane

Hunter Lane was a third baseman who played for the Memphis Red Sox in the 1920s. Lane was a key member of the Red Sox team that won the American League pennant in 1924.

Lane also played for the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox during his career. Lane was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Lane died in 1994 at the age of 94.

Hunter Lane had a successful MLB career with the Boston Braves, playing in just over 7 games and hitting just one hit. Lane was born in Edmond, Oklahoma, in 1924 and played high school baseball in his home state.

After graduating from high school in 1942, Lane joined the United States Navy and served in World War II. 

After the war, Lane attended Oklahoma State University and played baseball for the Cowboys. Lane was drafted by the Braves in the eighth round of the 1951 MLB draft.

Lane made his MLB debut with the Braves in 1924 and played for the team until his retirement in 1934. Lane is most notable for his involvement in one of the most famous baseball incidents of all time. 

On June 26, 1924, Lane hit a home run in the ninth inning of a game against the New York Giants that helped the Braves to a 7-6 victory. Lane later admitted to fibbing about the location of the ball in order to help his team win the game.

15. Drew Beam

Drew Beam is a talented pitcher for the Tennessee Volunteers. He was drafted in the 32nd round of the 2013 MLB draft. He has yet to make his major league debut, but he has enjoyed success in the minor leagues.

Beam is considered to be a prospect with a bright future. He has a fastball that can reach the high 90s, and a good slider. Beam is also known for his ability to command his pitches. He is a member of the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team.

He is currently a freshman at the University of Tennessee. He hopes to make his major league debut in the future. 

Drew Beam is a right-handed pitcher who was drafted in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Drew Beam was named the Dodgers Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2016.

Beam was also named to the 2017 Mid-Season All-Star Team. In 2018, Drew Beam was named the Dodgers Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive year. 

Beam was selected to the 2019 MLB All-Star Team. Drew Beam is currently a part of the Dodgers bullpen. Beam has a 2.23 ERA in 118 innings pitched in the MLB.

Beam has a 0.96 WHIP and has struck out over a batter per inning. Drew Beam is currently a part of the Dodgers rotation.

16. Rod Delmonico

Rod Delmonico Career

  • 1977: Liberty (baseball)
  • 1978: Liberty (soccer)
  • 1981: Gloucester County College (assistant)
  • 1982–1983: Clemson (assistant)
  • 1984–1989: Florida State (assistant)
  • 1990–2007: Tennessee
  • 2008: Florida State (assistant)
  • 2009: FIU (assistant)

Rod Delmonico was an assistant coach at Florida State from 1984-1989. Delmonico played baseball and soccer at Liberty University. He then became an assistant coach at Clemson.

In 1981, he became the assistant coach at Gloucester County College. He then returned to Florida State as an assistant coach. Delmonico was the head coach at Clemson from 2002-2004.

He is currently the head coach of the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League. Delmonico was born on May 14, 1958. He is 64 years old. Rod Delmonico is a successful head coach at both the collegiate and professional level.

He was most recently the head coach at Florida State, but he has also coached at both FIU and Tennessee. Delmonico's coaching career has been marked by championships and success. He is a highly respected figure in the baseball community, and he has been awarded numerous accolades.

Delmonico is a tireless worker and he is known for his ability to develop players. He is a passionate coach, and he is always looking to improve his skills. 

Delmonico is a well-rounded coach, and he has a wealth of experience to offer his players. He is a great motivator, and he is able to get the best out of his players. Delmonico is a highly regarded coach, and he is a major factor in the success of his teams.

17. Mark Connor

Connor is a retired professional baseball player and coach. Connor played in the major leagues for the Detroit Tigers from 1973 to 1980. He was a member of the American League (AL) champion Detroit Tigers in 1976 and 1977.

Connor played for the New York Mets from 1980 to 1987 and the Toronto Blue Jays from 1988 to 1991. He was a member of the American League (AL) champion Toronto Blue Jays in 1986. Connor served as the manager of the Detroit Tigers from 1996 to 1998.

He was the manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2001 to 2003. Connor was the manager of the Boston Red Sox from 2004 to 2007. Connor served as the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2008 to 2016. Mark Connor was the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2003-2008.

He was fired from his position with the Texas Rangers in 2008. He is currently the manager of the Baltimore Orioles. 

He has experience as a coach with the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks. His teams have made the playoffs six times. Connor is a graduate of the University of Arkansas.

He was inducted into the Arkansas Hall of Fame in 2012. Connor is a fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Connor was born in Little Rock, Arkansas.

18. Zora G. Clevenger

Zora G. Clevenger Career

  • 1906: Indiana
  • 1916–1920: Kansas State
  • 1921–1923: Missouri
  • 1923–1946: Indiana

Zora Clevenger was born in 1881 in Muncie, Indiana and played football and basketball at Indiana and Nebraska Wesleyan. Clevenger was a halfback for Indiana from 1900 to 1903 and for Tennessee from 1911 to 1915.

Clevenger coached football at Nebraska Wesleyan from 1908 to 1910 and at Kansas State from 1916 to 1919. Clevenger later lived in Bloomington, Indiana and died there in 1970 at the age of 88. Clevenger was a versatile player who excelled both on the gridiron and in the court.

Clevenger was a highly successful coach, leading Nebraska Wesleyan to a conference championship in 1908 and Kansas State to a conference title in 1919. 

Clevenger was a pioneer in coaching football and basketball at the collegiate level. Clevenger was a highly respected and influential figure in the sport of football.

19. M. B. Banks

M. B. Banks Career

  • 1941–1950: Hartwick

M. B. Banks played football at Syracuse and was the quarterback for the team in 1905-1908. Banks then played basketball for Syracuse from 1908-1909 and was the captain of the team.

Banks then played baseball for Syracuse from 1909-1911. Banks then became the head coach of Central University in 1909. Banks then became the head coach of Ohio Wesleyan in 1912. Banks then retired as a football coach in 1912.

Banks then became the head coach of the West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1916. Banks then retired from coaching in 1916. Banks then died in 1970 at the age of 86. M. B. Banks was the head basketball coach at Hartwick from 1941 to 1948, compiling a 146-137 record.

Banks was also the head football coach at Hartwick from 1941 to 1950, compiling a 100-73 record. Banks was inducted into the Drake Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. 

Banks was also inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. Banks served as the athletic director at Hartwick from 1950 to 1970.

Final Words

Tennessee Volunteers baseball has had many successful players throughout its history. Some of the best players in Tennessee Volunteers baseball history include Reggie Jackson, Cal Ripken, Jr., and Phil Niekro.

These players have all contributed to the program’s success, and they will be remembered as some of the best players in Tennessee Volunteers baseball history.

Photo of author

Kevin Smith

I am a dedicated learner who is constantly pursuing my dreams in many areas of life. I am a Finance major at the University of Maryland, a professional baseball player for the Toronto Blue Jays and the owner of my personal brand, Elevate Baseball. I hope to inspire younger learners of all sports and interests to tirelessly pursue their dreams, whatever that may be. LinkedIn

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