University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Baseball Countdown: 26 Days
January 24, 2016 | Baseball
TENNESSEE BASEBALL’S NO. 26
Players | Years
- Jack Bailey | 1981
- Mike DiFelice | 1989-91
- Rick Gordon | 1991 (Away)
- Chase Hardin | 2005-06
- Tim Harvey | 1979-80
- Tony Hopper | 1966
- Jimmy Lee | 1969-79 (Home)
- John Lombardi | 1985
- Heath Loyd | 2013
- Brian May | 1992-94
- Jonathan McLuhan | 1995-96
- Ryan Moffett | 2000-02
- Tanner Moore | 2008
- Justin Parker | 1998
- Andrew Plunkett | 2014-15
- Nick Powell | 2012
- Jack Reynolds | 1997 (Home)
- Richard Rodriquez | 1982-84
- Carl Suter | 1971 (Home)
- Derek Tharpe | 2003-04
- Aaron Tullo | 2009-10
- Brad Tunnell | 1986-88
- Bob Whittlesey | 1974 (Home)
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' 2016 campaign (Feb. 19) with a look back at the many players who donned each jersey No. 30 through No. 1.
For the second consecutive year, the Vols will open the season on the road, as Tennessee travels to Chattanooga, Tenn., to face Memphis for a three-game series (Feb. 19-20). The team will continue playing on the road in the Grand Canyon Classic (Feb. 26-28) before returning home to take on Cincinnati on Wednesday, March 2 in their home opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Big Orange takes to the road again for the Keith LeClair Classic in Greenville, N.C. (March 4-6), later returning to Knoxville for a home matchup against Western Kentucky on March 8. Before Tennessee baseball’s home weekend series vs. UC Irvine on March 11-13, the Vols will also travel to Johnson City, Tenn. for a rubber match against ETSU (March 9).
The Orange & White will host SEC rival Ole Miss the following weekend (March 18-20) for the program's first home conference series. Additionally, Kentucky (April 1-3), Vanderbilt (April 22-24), Florida (May 6-8) and LSU (May 13-15) 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 18 of their 56 regular season games against eight 2015 NCAA postseason participants, including College World Series squads Vanderbilt, LSU and Florida.
A total of 23 Vols have worn No. 26 in Tennessee history. Joining this group is Tennessee baseball hall of famer, and former Major League catcher, Mike DiFelice (1989-91)
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.
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.
MORE NOTES ON DILFELICE
- 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
