University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Baseball Countdown: 5 Days
February 08, 2015 | Baseball
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Baseball Time in Tennessee is just five days away!
UTSports.com is counting 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, 30 Vols have now worn the No. 5 for the Orange and White and graduate transfer Chris Hall will wear the jersey for his first season on Rocky Top in 2015. Not long ago, the jersey belonged to former Vol Julio Borbon. Also a decorated outfielder, Borbon played at Tennessee from 2005-07 and is currently entering his eighth season of professional baseball.
THE PAST...
#5 Julio Borbon
2005-07 | OF | 6-1 | 190 lbs. | Santo Domingo, D.R. (Colegio Dominicano De La Salle)
A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Borbon came to Tennessee as a freshman in 2005 and made an immediate impact. He helped lead the Vols back to the College World Series with the third-highest batting average (.350) on the team. His freshman average ranks fifth on UT's freshman records. He totaled 77 hits, three home runs and 42 RBIs. Borbon was believed to lead the NCAA with 19 bunt hits as a rookie (not an official stat), and earned NCAA Knoxville All-Tournament Team honors in the postseason. Borbon was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.
Borbon showed no signs of a sophomore slump in 2006, leading the Vols in batting average (.366), runs (45), hits (86), triples (5) and stolen bases (19). He was named to the ABCA All-South Region second team and was a second team All-SEC selection. Off the field, Borbon was named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV team and was UT's nominee for the SEC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. He started all 55 games in centerfield and batted in the leadoff spot in 54 contests. Borbon posted 66 singles in 2006, which is currently tied for 10th on the all-time single-season record list. He added five triples, which also ranks in a tie for 10th on the single-season charts.
Borbon closed out his career with another solid campaign. He hit .345 with 60 hits, a career-best six triples, three home runs and 28 RBIs as a junior in 2007. A .355 career hitter, Borbon ranks third in UT history in triples (13), sixth in singles (173) and 10th in hits (223). His six triples in 2007 rank fourth in UT's single-season records.
He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round (35th overall) of the 2007 MLB Draft. Borbon played four seasons for the Rangers - playing in the 2010 World Series - before being claimed by the Chicago Cubs. Borbon played with the Cubs in 2013 and is now a part of the Baltimore Orioles organization after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft.
NOTES ON BORBON
- Full name is Julio Alberto Borbon
- Born Feb. 20, 1986, in Starkville, Miss.
- Majored in sport management at Tennessee
THE PRESENT...
#5 Chris Hall
2015 Debut | OF | 5-11 | 175 lbs. | L/R | Nashville, Tenn. (Cumberland Univ./Friendship Christian)
An athletic outfielder, Hall comes to Tennessee following an NAIA National Championship season with Cumberland University, where he served as the school's primary leadoff hitter in 2014. Last season, he hit .392 with 75 runs scored in 68 games, including 67 starts. Hall was voted a Second Team NAIA All-American and First Team Mid-South Conference player, leading Cumberland in hit-by-pitch totals (20) while his 42 walks and three triples ranked second-best on the team. He also led Cumberland's offense with a .510 OBP and succeeded in 12 of his 16 stolen base attempts.
Hall graduated from Friendship Christian School in Nashville, where he earned four varsity letters for the Commanders. He earned all-state honors in his junior and senior seasons and was a two-time all mid-state honoree, hitting .458 as a senior with four homers, 36 RBI and 19 stolen bases.
NOTES ON HALL
- Full name is Christopher Matthew Hall
- Superstition: "I have velcro shoes I wear every game day."
- Currently working toward his MBA
