KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s sophomore duo of Max Ferguson and Connor Pavolony earned preseason All-America honors by D1Baseball.com on Monday.
Ferguson was tabbed a first-team selection at second base while Pavolony garnered second-team honors at catcher.
D1Baseball.com is the second outlet to recognize Ferguson as a preseason All-American after Perfect Game named him a second-team selection earlier this month. This marks the first time that Pavolony has garnered preseason All-America status since arriving at Tennessee prior to the 2019 season.
Ferguson ranked second in the SEC with nine stolen bases while batting .333, scoring 12 runs and hitting two homers in 13 games played during the shortened 2020 season. Entering his third season with the Vols, Ferguson has been tabbed one of the top 2021 MLB Draft prospects by D1Baseball.com (No. 24) and Baseball America (No. 48).
Pavolony was also included on D1Baseball.com’s Top 2021 College MLB Draft Prospects List, coming in at No. 39. The Woodstock, Georgia, native was off to a red-hot start to the 2020 season before it was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Pavolony started 11 games at catcher and finished the shortened season tied for second on the team with a career-high four home runs. He also ranked second on the team in slugging percentage (.737), fourth in batting average (.342) and fifth in runs batted in (12).
Pavolony was named to the inaugural Round Rock Classic All-Tournament Team as well after helping lead the Big Orange to wins over No. 1 Texas Tech, Houston and No. 25 Stanford.
The Vols are set to open their season on Feb. 19 when they travel to Statesboro, Georgia for a weekend series against Georgia Southern. The 2021 schedule can be found by clicking HERE.
For the most up-to-date news and information on Tennessee baseball, visit UTSports.com/sports/baseball and follow the team on social media (Twitter & Instagram: @Vol_Baseball | Facebook.com/VolBaseball).
-UT Athletics
