University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Baseball Countdown: 26 Days
January 18, 2015 | Baseball
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Baseball Time in Tennessee is just 26 days away!
Throughout January and February, UTSports.com will count down the days leading up to the start of the Vols' 2015 campaign (Feb. 13) with a look back at the many players who donned each jersey No. 30 through No. 1.
After opening last season at home, the Vols will travel to Miami, Fla., this year to face Florida International for a three-game series (Feb. 13-15). The team will return home to take on Tennessee Tech on Wednesday, Feb. 18 and Rutgers for four games (Feb. 20-22) during Tennessee's home opener weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, including a doubleheader against the Scarlet Knights on Saturday, Feb. 21. The Orange & White will later host long-time SEC foe Georgia (March 20-22) for the program's first home conference opponent series in March. Additionally, Missouri (April 9-11), South Carolina (April 24-26), Texas A&M (May 1-3) and Mississippi State (May 15-17) will make trips to Rocky Top this year.
On the season, the Volunteers, led by Head Coach Dave Serrano and his staff, are scheduled to play 27 of their 55 regular season games against nine 2014 NCAA postseason participants, including College World Series squads Vanderbilt, UC Irvine and Ole Miss.
In total, 23 Vols have worn No. 26 and redshirt freshman outfielder Andrew Plunkett will be the 24th Vol to don the jersey in 2015. Included in the mix is former Major League Baseball journeyman catcher Mike DiFelice.
Looking Back...#26 MIKE DIFELICE
1989-91 | C | 6-2 | 205 lbs. | Knoxville, Tenn. (Bearden)
A local product out of nearby Bearden High School in Knoxville, Mike DeFelice's was a letterman on Rocky Top from 1989-91. He jumped into the spotlight during the 1990 season, during which he ranked among the top 10 in the SEC in hitting (.353), home runs (10) and slugging percentage (.624).
The catcher earned second-team All-SEC honors that year and went on to finish his career with a .308 batting average, 123 hits, 17 home runs and 82 RBIs. His Tennessee pitching totals included a 3-1 record and four saves.
DiFelice was selected in the 11th round of the 1991 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and would go on to play a part in 13 seasons for nine different teams. DiFelice finished his MLB career with a lifetime .236 batting average with 28 home runs, 167 RBI, 368 hits, including 83 doubles over 550 career games.
During his 13 years in the big leagues, DiFelice caught for the Cardinals, New York Mets, Tampa Bay Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers.
DiFelice was inducted into the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame on Jan. 29, 2007, becoming the 16th all-time inductee and the first to have played under head coach Rod Delmonico. He was also named a member of Tennessee's All-Century Team in 2009.
THROWBACK NOTES ON DIFELICE
- Born in Philadelphia, Penn.
- At-bat song in the MLB was 'You've Got Another Thing Comin' by Judas Priest
- Made MLB debut on September 1, 1996
Looking Ahead...#26 Andrew Plunkett
2014-Present | OF | 6-4 | 220 lbs. | R/R | Memphis, Tenn. (Memphis University School)
Redshirt freshman outfielder Andrew Plunkett is the 23rd Vol to ever wear No. 26. Plunkett comes to Knoxville from Memphis, where he was a four-year letterwinner for the Memphis University School Owls. He was ranked as the No. 4 outfielder in the Volunteer State and earned Rawlings All-American Southeast Region honors as a high school senior. Plunkett also helped the Owls' football team to the 2009 state championship and took the baseball squad to regionals in each of his four years.
NOTES FROM HIS BIO
- Full name is Andrew Barksdale Plunkett
- Born March 2, 1994
- Played 36 games for the Riverhead Tomcats of the 2014 Hamptons Collegiate Summer Baseball League, hitting at a .282 clip with two homers and 16 RBIs.
