**Tennessee Faces Significant Roster Changes Ahead of Next Season**
As the offseason approaches, the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team is preparing for a wave of changes to their roster. Three key players, Kirby Connell, Zander Sechrist, and Chris Stamos, will be departing as they have exhausted their eligibility.
Connell, Sechrist, and Stamos have been instrumental in Tennessee’s success over the past seasons, providing both leadership and performance on the field. Their departure marks the end of an era and creates substantial gaps that the team will need to fill.
Moreover, standout pitcher Drew Beam is set to enter the MLB Draft. Beam’s departure is a significant loss for the Volunteers, as his talent and consistency have been vital to the team’s pitching staff. His professional aspirations are well-deserved, but they leave Tennessee with another critical spot to replace.
The team will also face decisions from AJ Causey and Aaron Combs, who are contemplating whether to start their professional careers or return to Knoxville. Their choices will further shape the roster and the team’s strategy moving forward.
In response to these upcoming changes, Tennessee has already started making moves to bolster their lineup. On Tuesday afternoon, they secured their first transfer portal commitment by landing Tanner Franklin from Kennesaw State. Franklin, a right-handed pitcher from East Tennessee, entered the transfer portal on June 17th and chose the Volunteers over an offer from in-state rival Vanderbilt.
Franklin brings an impressive resume, standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 240 pounds, with a fastball that can reach nearly 100 mph. He finished last season with a 4-1 record and a 5.60 ERA. As a sophomore, he pitched 27.1 innings, striking out 43 and walking 27, while also earning five saves. With two years of eligibility left, Franklin’s addition is a promising start to addressing the upcoming vacancies.
As Tennessee navigates these transitions, the focus will be on maintaining the competitive edge that has defined the team in recent years. The combination of seasoned veterans leaving and new talent arriving sets the stage for an intriguing offseason and a potentially dynamic next season for the Volunteers.
