University of Tennessee Athletics
Fresh Faces Emerge in Tennessee Outfield
February 22, 2008 | Baseball
By Melissa Anderson
UT Sports Information
Tennessee first-year baseball coach Todd Raleigh does not always feel good about starting true freshmen.
This season might be an exception.
Newcomers Kentrail Davis, Josh Liles and P.J. Polk will likely make up Tennessee's starting outfield when the Volunteers make their debut under Raleigh in today's season opener at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium against Morehead State (3 p.m.).
"You don't always want to start freshmen all the time. Raleigh said. "But these guys are talented."
Davis, a 14th-round pick in the 2007 MLB draft, will start in centerfield, replacing three-year starter Julio Borbon. Liles, a Jackson, Tenn., native, will be in right field, and Polk will play left field, where he likely will split time with senior Shawn Griffin and junior Jarred Frazier.
"It's exciting for all of us," said Davis, who's from Theodore, Ala. "We all want to be out there playing, and I think a lot of people will realize when they see three freshmen out there that, 'Hey, they must be doing something right or the coaches must see something in them.'"
Youth is the story of the season for the Vols, who lost three first-round draft picks in Borbon, catcher/first baseman J.P. Arencibia and starting pitcher James Adkins.
Of the 30 players on UT's roster this season, 19 are underclassmen, including five true freshmen, one redshirt freshman, and 13 sophomores.
Davis is likely to stand out among the first-year players.
Raleigh has said Davis, who's been compared by many scouts to Hall of Fame outfielder Kirby Puckett, could contend for Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year honors.
For now, Davis is focused on adjusting to playing at the college level.
"At the beginning, I wasn't sure if I was ready or prepared," Davis said. "But now I have a lot of confidence, my teammates are behind me and a lot of my upperclassmen friends have told me what to expect. They help me out there a lot. I'm excited about it and ready to play."
Liles, a 40th-round selection last year by the Seattle Mariners, signed with the Vols out of University School of Jackson, where he hit .525 with 12 home runs, 43 RBI, 85 hits (35 for extra bases) and only eight strikeouts as a senior in 2007. He also broke the single-season state record with 84 runs scored and finished as the state's all-time career leader in runs scored with 313.
"I'm just really looking forward to playing college baseball," Liles said. "It has been a goal of mine my entire life, and my family is coming up for the first game to see me play. I just can't wait to get started."
Raleigh simply can't wait to see Davis and Liles in action.
"The thing about these two is that they are very gifted, but they play the game hard and play the game the way we want it to be played - that is the part I really like," Raleigh said. "I think, from a freshman standpoint, they are years ahead of where most freshmen are in their approach to the game. They have a lot of ways to go and a lot to learn, but as far as playing hard everyday, they do that."
Polk was a two-sport standout at Murfreesboro's Oakland High School, starting all four years on both the football and baseball teams. During his senior year on the diamond, he batted .411 with seven home runs and 22 stolen bases. On the gridiron, he served as team captain during his senior season and also earned All-Region honors as a running back and defensive back.
"P.J. probably came in a little behind Josh and Kentrail back in the fall, but P.J. has gotten strong in the weight room and really improved his swing," Raleigh said. "P.J. is the guy out there (in left field) right now that is going to get some playing time for us. He is doing a good job."
As a team, the Vols still have plenty of work to do.
??The SEC's coaches picked Tennessee to finish sixth in the SEC Eastern Division this season. Polk hopes that the team can prove people and the polls wrong.
"A lot of people are kind of counting us out early because of our youth," Polk said. "So, really, I just want to go out and prove to the polls and everybody that we have a good team and that we are going to do good things."
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Regardless of the outcome of this season, Raleigh thinks the future looks bright with an outfield full of talented freshmen.
"I think it does show promise for the future, because these guys play the game the right way, and they play hard and they have tremendous talent," Raleigh said.
"I think you can build a program around guys like them."
