University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Baseball Countdown: 17 Days
January 27, 2015 | Baseball
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Baseball Time in Tennessee is just 17 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.
Practice has officially begun on Rocky Top. The Diamond Vols are in action throughout the week. All outdoor practices at Lindsey Nelson Stadium are free and open to the public. For more information, visit UTSports.com
In total, 28 Vols have worn the Orange and White No. 17. Current junior and Knoxville native Derek Lance will sport the jersey again for his third season with the Vols in 2015. Today, we shift our focus back to 2003-04, when former Vol shortstop and three-time Major League draftee Brian Cleveland donned the jersey for the Volunteers.
THE PAST...#17 Brian Cleveland
2003-04 | SS | 6-1 | 185 lbs. | R/R | San Jose, Calif.
A native of San Jose, Calif., shortstop Brian Cleveland transferred to Tennessee after playing two seasons at the junior college level in California. Cleveland tore it up out west, hitting .401 with nine home runs and 41 RBIs as a sophomore in 2002, and batting .469 as a freshman. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 36th round of the 2001 MLB Draft, but chose to continue his college playing days.
Cleveland started all 53 games he played at shortstop in 2003, finishing the campaign hitting .271 with seven doubles, two triple, four home runs and team-high 32 RBIs. He added nine sacrifice flies, tying for the SEC lead and a school record held by Todd Helton. Continuing a long line of Vols to play in the Alaska Baseball League, Cleveland suited up for the Anchorage Bucs that summer. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 49th round of the 2003 MLB Draft, but again chose to return to Rocky Top for his senior season.
With the help of Cleveland and future Major Leaguers Chase Headley and Luke Hochevar, the Vols opened the year 29-5 - the best start in program history - but cooled down the stretch before being eliminated by UNC Wilmington in the NCAA Regionals. During the ride, Cleveland hit .281 with a team-high six home runs, 43 RBIs and 17 doubles. The senior was the only Vol to start all 62 games that season. The shortstop earned the Phil Garner Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004.
Cleveland was drafted for the third time, this time by the Florida Marlins in the 16th round of the 2004 MLB Draft. He went on to play three seasons in the Marlins' organization at multiple levels. Cleveland suited up for the Jamestown Jammers (A-), the Greensboro Grasshoppers (A), the Jupiter Hammerheads (A+) and the Carolina Mudcats (AA) from 2004-06. He hit .256 with 12 home runs, 53 doubles, 94 RBIs and 32 stolen bases over the three seasons.
NOTES ON CLEVELAND
- Holds the SEC Tournament single-game record with eight assists vs. Arkansas (5/26/2004)
- Majored in sport management at Tennessee
- Earned SEC Academic Honor Roll acclaim in 2004
THE PRESENT...#17 Derek Lance
2013-Present | OF/INF | 5-10 | 175 lbs. | R/R | Knoxville, Tenn. (Bearden)
Derek Lance enters his third season as a member of the Diamond Vols in 2015. A graduate of nearby Bearden High School, Lance hit .291 with 2 home runs and 17 RBI during his sophomore campaign. Over the summer, Lance excelled in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, leading his Cincinnati Steam club with a .317 average and .388 OBP, while finished second in hits (38), runs (23) and stolen bases (9). Following the summer season, he took home GLSCL First Team honors.
Lance led the Bearden Bulldogs to the 2012 Class AAA State Championship game as a senior. He earned all-state, all-district and team MVP honors after hitting a blazing .466 with 61 runs scored, eight homers and 37 RBIs. He was also named to the 2012 Knoxville News Sentinel PrepXtra First Team and claimed Rawlings Southeast Region Honorable Mention All-American accolades. Lance struck out just seven times in 171 at-bats as a senior, posting a blistering .533 batting average during postseason play.
NOTES ON LANCE
- Full name is Derek Alan Lance
- Born December 2, 1993
- Majoring in kinesiology
