University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Baseball Countdown: 14 Days
January 30, 2015 | Baseball
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Baseball Time in Tennessee is just 14 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, 26 Vols have worn the Orange and White No. 14, and senior catcher Tyler Schultz will officially put on the jersey again in two weeks. In the late 1990s the jersey belonged to right-handed pitcher Luke Hudson, who went on to play five years in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals.
THE PAST...#14 Luke Hudson
1996-98 | RHP | R/R | 6-3 | 195 lbs. | Fountain Valley, Calif.
One of many Vols to hail from the West Coast, Luke Hudson's first season on Rocky Top was in 1996. In his freshman season, Hudson went 5-0 and finished the year with a 3.91 ERA. He started nine games, amassing 57 strikeouts over 53.0 innings pitched.
As a sophomore, Hudson started 12 games for the Vols, finishing the season with a 6-2 record and a 4.12 ERA. He struck out a career-best 77 batters and had two complete games over 83.0 innings of work.
Making 12 starts as a junior, Hudson posted just a 4-3 record with a 6.82 ERA. He added one more complete game and 68 strikeouts in his last season as a Vol.
With a 15-5 overall career record, Hudson ranks ninth in career winning percentage at Tennessee with a mark of .750.
Hudson was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round of the 1998 MLB Draft, but was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2001. He made his debut for the club on July 1, 2002 at age 25. Hudson won 10 games with the Reds over the course of three seasons, compiling a 4.92 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 139.0 innings pitched.
After being released by the Reds, Hudson was signed by the Kansas City Royals in 2006. He pitched two seasons for the Royals and racked up seven wins, a 5.37 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 104.0 innings pitched.
In and out of minor league stints, Hudson struck out a whopping 694 batters and allowed just 278 base on balls.
NOTES ON HUDSON
- Drafted out of high school by the Baltimore Orioles (5th round)
- Has four sisters and three brothers
- Majored in sport management
THE PRESENT...#14 Tyler Schultz
2014-Present | C | 5-10 | 180 lbs. | L/R | Huntington Beach, Calif. (Lakewood HS)
Senior catcher Tyler Schultz wrapped up his first season on Rocky Top in 2014 by hitting .254 over 32 games with the Vols, including 24 starts. Schultz, who transferred to Tennessee following a stellar campaign at Cypress Community College and helped the program to its fifth state title in school history, immediately became a beacon of positivity for the Vols. The positive energy paid off over the summer, as Schultz played 31 games for the California Collegiate League Champion Los Angeles Brewers and earned All-League Team honors. He was also the lone catcher selected to the 2014 CCL South All-Division Team.
Prior to playing at Cypress and Tennessee, Schultz played for the University of San Francisco Dons. He appeared in 19 games and fielded a perfect 1.000 behind the plate with 51 put outs and six assists.
Schultz attended Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Calif., and was a two-sport athlete with baseball and football. He helped lead both teams to league championships in 2010 and 2011. On the diamond, he hit .471 as a senior and .333 as a junior for the Lancers. He was a three-time first team all-league honoree and earned team MVP honors on the gridiron. Schultz was named the Lakewood Athlete of the Year as a senior.
NOTES ON SCHULTZ
- Full name is Tyler John Schultz
- Majoring in communications
- Named California Community College Athletic Conference State Championship MVP in 2013, hitting .538 during the tournament
