Four Tennessee baseball players have secured spots on Baseball America’s preseason All-American teams.
Four Tennessee baseball players were named to Baseball America’s three Preseason All-American teams on Monday afternoon.
Among them, starting pitcher Drew Beam earned a spot on the first team, while first baseman Blake Burke made the second team. Third baseman Billy Amick and second baseman Christian Moore secured spots on the third team.
Beam, Amick, and Moore have been consistent in earning positions on every All-American team this preseason. Notably, Burke’s inclusion marks a first for Baseball America’s preseason All-American team.
Beam, a right-handed pitcher, has been Tennessee’s Sunday starter for two seasons and aims to take on the Friday night starting spot in his junior year. In the 2023 season, he achieved a 9-4 record, with a 3.63 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 88 strikeouts, and only 23 walks. He particularly shined in Tennessee’s postseason run to the College World Series.
Burke faced high expectations in his sophomore season but struggled during SEC play. However, he rallied with significant hits during the NCAA Tournament, finishing the season with a .280 batting average, 16 home runs, and 38 RBIs.
Amick transferred from Clemson to Tennessee during the offseason, a notable move for Tony Vitello and his team. At Clemson, Amick showcased his versatility, playing first base, third base, and designated hitter. He boasted impressive stats, hitting .413 with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs, alongside a remarkable 16.7% strikeout percentage.
Moore’s sophomore season was marked by fluctuations, but he excelled during the postseason, earning Clemson Regional MVP honors. He finished the season hitting .304 with 17 home runs, 13 doubles, and 50 RBIs.
Tennessee is positioned as a fringe top 10 team in various preseason rankings, including No. 5 in the NCBWA poll, No. 8 in Baseball America’s rankings, No. 9 in D1Baseball’s rankings, and No. 11 in Perfect Game’s rankings. The preseason rankings from USA Today’s Coaches Poll are yet to be released.
The Tennessee baseball season kicks off on Feb. 16 at the Shriner’s Children Hospital Classic in Dallas, Texas.
