KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 2021 baseball season is right around the corner and leading up to opening day, UTSports.com will preview each position group for this year’s team.
First up are Tennessee’s outfielders.
The Volunteers will need to replace a pair of 2020 MLB Draft picks in Alerick Soularie and Zach Daniels but with four returners and a couple of new faces, UT should have plenty of depth and talent ready to step in and produce at a high level.
Returners (Listed Numerically)
#1 Drew Gilbert – Sophomore – 5-9 / 182 – Stillwater, Minn.
Career Stats (1 Season): 15 GP, 10 GS, .350 AVG, 40 AB, 15 R, 14 H, 3 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .500 SLG, 7 BB, 6 K, .490 OBP
One of Tennessee’s prized recruits from its 2020 signing class, Gilbert certainly lived up to expectations during his first season on Rocky Top. The Minnesota native finished the shortened 2020 season ranked third on the team in batting average, runs scored and on-base percentage while starting 10 games.
Gilbert, who also pitches for the Vols, is likely to be the opening day starter in center field and will look to provide a spark at the top of the lineup as he strives to build off his early-season success from a year ago.
#6 Evan Russell – Senior – 5-11 / 195 – Lexington, Tenn.
Career Stats (3 Seasons): 113 GP, 98 GS, .268 AVG, 343 AB, 63 R, 92 H, 16 2B, 11 HR, 74 RBI, .423 SLG, 55 BB, 78 K, .375 OBP, 9 SB
Russell is one of the most experienced players on UT’s roster with 113 career games played and 98 starts under his belt. He will once again be relied upon to play a significant role in the Vols’ outfield rotation and is likely an opening day starter.
The senior from Lexington, Tennessee brings a solid mix of power and plate discipline and is a reliable defender that can play left or right field. Russell is also one of the team’s leaders on and off the field. He is a 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-American and three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection.
#8 Christian Scott – Junior – 5-9 / 175 – Clarksville, Tenn.
Career Stats (2 Seasons): 34 GP, 8 GS, .310 AVG, 42 AB, 10 R, 13 H, 3 2B, 4 RBI, .381 SLG, 10 BB, 14 K, .434 OBP, 2 SB
Scott has put up solid numbers during limited action over his first two seasons at UT. The Clarksville, Tennessee native, is one of the team’s best athletes and is a very good defensive player. Scott has impressed this offseason and will look to earn a larger role as he enters his junior year.
#27 Jordan Beck – Sophomore – 6-3 / 213 – Hazel Green, Ala.
Career Stats (1 Season): 16 GP, 10 GS, .275 AVG, 40 AB, 10 R, 11 H, 5 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .475 SLG, 8 BB, 11 K, .396 OBP
One of Tennessee’s potential breakout stars, Beck will look to build off a solid freshman campaign. The Hazel Green, Alabama, native played in 16 games and made 10 starts in his debut season, batting .275 with five doubles, one home run and nine RBI. He was named to the Round Rock Classic All-Tournament Team after helping lead the Vols to wins over No. 1 Texas Tech, Houston and No. 25 Stanford.
Beck has the potential to be one of UT’s most dangerous hitters and is considered one of the top sophomore pro prospects in the Southeastern Conference, coming in at No. 5 on D1Baseball.com’s 2022 College MLB Draft SEC Prospects list. He is one of the favorites to land a starting spot in Tennessee’s outfield on opening day.
Newcomers (Listed Numerically)
#12 Kyle Booker – Freshman – 5-10 / 175 – Southaven, Miss.
Booker was one of the highest-rated signees in UT’s 2021 recruiting class after a standout prep career. The Mississippi native was rated as the 224th best prospect in the nation by Perfect Game after helping lead DeSoto Central High School to a pair of state championships and the 2020 Perfect Game High School Showdown title.
Booker was recently named an SEC Impact Freshman by D1Baseball.com, coming in at No. 18 on that list. The speedy lefty will look to earn some early playing time as a true freshman this season.
#18 Hunter Ensley – Freshman – 6-1 / 185 – Huntingdon, Tenn.
A multi-sport star from Huntingdon High School, Ensley brings a well-rounded skill set to the Vols’ outfield group. Like Booker, Ensley was a highly regarded recruit coming out of high school as Perfect Game rated him as the 292nd best prospect in the nation and ninth best player from the state of Tennessee. He was a two-time Tennessee Mr. Baseball finalist and was a 2019 MaxPreps Small Schools First Team All-American.
Ensley was also a standout on the gridiron for Huntingdon High, earning All-State honors while leading the Mustangs to a 13-1 record and an appearance in the Class A state semifinals in 2019. As a senior, Ensley was named a finalist for Tennessee Class A Mr. Football, becoming the first athlete in Huntingdon High School history to be named a finalist for Mr. Football and Mr. Baseball during his career.
Other Possible Outfielders
Returners Max Ferguson and Ethan Payne are primarily infielders but could also see time in the outfield this season. Ferguson has been named a preseason All-American by three different outlets and is poised for a breakout junior campaign. Payne did not see action as a freshman last year due to the shortened season but can play first base or outfield. He was a dynamic two-sport athlete at Germantown High School, where he was a star on the Red Devils’ baseball and football teams.
-UT Athletics
