University of Tennessee Athletics
2018 Tennessee Baseball Position Preview: Pitchers
January 16, 2018 | Baseball
As we approach Opening Day of the 2018 Tennessee baseball season, each week UTSports.com will preview a position group for the upcoming season. To kick things off we'll take a look at the UT pitching staff.
The Volunteer's pitching staff is shaping up to be one of the strengths of this year's team with a solid mix of returners and talented newcomers. Learn more about each of UT's pitchers below.
Returners (In order of innings pitched in 2017)
#27 Garrett Stallings (So. | RHP | Chesapeake, Va.)
Stallings enters his sophomore season with increased expectations after a solid freshman campaign. The Chesapeake, Va., native is expected to be a major contributor this season and will be a key piece in the Vols' starting rotation. Stallings appeared in 20 games last season while making eight starts, eventually securing a spot as UT's Saturday starter. The right-hander finished the year with the second-lowest ERA among Tennessee pitchers who made six or more starts (3.47). In his debut season on Rocky Top, Stallings finished with a 3-4 record and 39 strikeouts through 70.0 innings of work.
#15 Will Neely (Jr. | RHP | Knoxville, Tenn.)
Neely enters his junior season as the Vols' most experienced pitcher with 39 career appearances, 14 career starts and 110.0 career innings pitched. The Knoxville native went 3-1 last season with a 3.43 ERA, which led all pitchers on the roster who threw 15 or more innings. He finished third on the team last season with 41 strikeouts and led all starting pitchers with a .213 opponent batting average. The right hander also played in the Cape Cod Baseball League over the summer, posting a 3.11 ERA and eight strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work. Neely is likely to be Tennessee's Sunday starter this season.
#25 Zach Linginfelter (So. | RHP | Sevierville, Tenn.)
Linginfelter will battle Stallings for the Friday night starter role this season after putting up some impressive numbers as a freshman in 2017. The hard-throwing righty made 22 appearances, including six starts, while posting a 3-4 record and three saves last year. Linginfelter finished the season with a 3.67 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 56.1 innings of work. His 61 punchouts ranked second on the team and are the most of any returning pitcher. Last week, the Sevierville, Tenn., native checked in at No. 72 on D1Baseball's Top 100 college prospects list. Linginfelter also made three appearances for the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Code League over the summer, where he allowed just one hit in three innings pitched.
#29 Daniel Vasquez (Jr. | RHP | El Cajon, Calif.)
Vasquez comes into the 2018 season as one of the more experienced pitchers on the Vols' roster with 32 career appearances and six starts to his name. The California native could see an expanded role for UT this season with a chance to compete for one of the team's midweek starter roles as well as provide depth in the bullpen. Vasquez went 2-1 last season and struck out 30 batters in 23.1 innings pitched, a significant bump from his freshman year when he recorded just 25 strikeouts in 31.0 innings pitched. The right hander had a solid showing in the California Collegiate League over the summer, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.02 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 26.2 innings pitched.
#30 Andrew Schultz (So. | RHP | Alpharetta, Ga.)
Schultz is yet another UT pitcher who will be competing for a larger role in 2018. The Alpharetta, Ga., native will look to build off a good freshman season which saw him work exclusively in a relief role. Schultz made 17 appearances and threw 16.1 innings while posting a 3.86 ERA. The right-hander finished the year with a 1-0 record and also recorded a save. Schultz struck out 19 batters on 14.0 innings over the summer as a member of the Valley Blue Sox in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. He should compete for some midweek starts as well as be a key contributor in the Vols' bullpen.
#11 Will Heflin (So. | LHP | Morristown, Tenn.)
Heflin is one of UT's two-way players as he saw both time on the mount and at designated hitter during his freshman campaign. The Morristown, Tenn., native made 12 relief appearances last season and posted one of the best ERA's on the team (2.93). In 15.1 innings pitched, Heflin allowed just five runs and held opponents to a .232 batting average. Heflin tossed 32.1 innings over the summer as a member of the Front Royal Cardinals of the Valley Baseball League, striking out 25 batters. The lefty will compete for the closer role for UT this season.
#17 Connor Darling (So. | RHP | Suwanee, Ga.)
Darling made nine appearances on the mound, including one start, in his debut campaign for the Vols. The Suwanee, Ga., native posted a 1-0 record with a 6.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in 12.0 innings pitched in 2017. Darling spent his summer with the Anchorage Bucs of the Alaska Baseball League where he went 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 16.0 innings of work. Darling will likely be used primarily as a relief pitcher this season.
#37 Richard Jackson (R-Jr. | RHP | Atlanta, Ga.)
Jackson is another player who could see an increased role and provide some much-needed depth in the bullpen for Tennessee in 2018. The redshirt junior right-hander made just two appearances and tossed only 2.2 innings last season, but had an impressive summer campaign with the Westhampton Aviators of the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League. Jackson led the league with seven saves, posted a 3-1 record and recorded a 0.53 ERA in 17.0 innings of work.
#28 Alex Harper-Cook (R-So. | LHP | Maryville, Tenn.)
Harper-Cook redshirted last season. As a true freshman in 2016, the Maryville native appeared in 15 games for the Vols, going 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA and 20 strikeouts through 23.1 innings of work. After a solid fall, the lefty should compete for innings out of the UT bullpen.
#46 Redmond Walsh (R-Fr. | LHP | Louisville, Tenn.)
Walsh redshirted last season after lettering all four years at nearby Alcoa High School. He was listed as the No. 5 left-handed pitcher in the state of Tennessee and a Top 200 lefty among national reports by Perfect Game in 2016.
Newcomers (In alphabetical order)
#20 Donovan Benoit (Fr. | RHP | Pensacola, Fla.)
Benoit comes to Tennessee from Pensacola, Fla., where he starred at Pensacola Catholic High School. The right hander was a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and earned FHSAA All-State honors as a senior. Benoit was a two-time All-Area selection and posted the lowest ERA in Pensacola Catholic history. He also batted .407 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs as a senior. Benoit was rated No. 14 in the state of Florida among right-handed pitchers and No. 50 overall in the state by Perfect Game.
#34 Garrett Crochet (Fr. | LHP | Ocean Springs, Miss.)
Following a breakout senior season at Ocean Springs High School in Mississippi, Crochet shot up the recruiting rankings and ended up choosing Tennessee over Texas. The left hander was selected in the 34th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers after going 6-4 with a 1.48 ERA and 76 strikeouts while leading Ocean Springs to a state semifinals appearance as a senior. Crochet should play a significant role as a reliever this season and is one of a handful of players competing to be the team's closer.
#32 Sean Hunley (Fr. | RHP | Mount Juliet, Tenn.)
Hunley joins the Vols after a stellar prep career at Mount Juliet High School. As a senior, Hunley led the Mount Juliet pitching staff with a 5-1 record and 1.04 ERA while earning All-District 9AAA and District All-Tournament honors. The right hander was a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and All-Southern Region second-team selection. Hunley was also a 2015 Under Armour Pre-Season All-American and was named to the 2015 Under Armour Freshman/Sophomore National team. Hunley was rated as the 28th overall player in the state of Tennessee by Perfect Game.
#33 Joshua Plummer (Fr. | RHP/OF | Mechanicsville, Va.)
A talented, multi-sport athlete from Hanover High School in Virginia, Plummer was rated the No. 4 outfielder and No. 22 overall player from the state of Virginia by Perfect Game rankings. A three-year varsity letterman and All-Academic student-athlete in baseball and basketball, Plummer helped lead his Hawks to a state championship on the diamond in 2016 as well as region and conference titles as a senior in 2017. The right hander was dubbed a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and was also an all-conference selection on the basketball court.
#41 Sam Springer (Fr. | LHP | Knoxville, Tenn.)
A Knoxville native, Springer joined the Vols following a standout career at West High School. Springer was a two-time National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF) All-American and a four-time All-District honoree at West High School. The lefty was also a two-time team MVP at West High School and a 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game Southeast Region Honorable Mention.
#26 Brandon Trammell (Fr. | RHP/INF | Knoxville, Tenn.)
Trammell, a Knoxville native and son of former Vol and big leaguer Thomas Bubba Trammell, chose the Vols over big-name programs Vanderbilt, North Carolina and Florida State. Trammell will be a two-way player for UT. The right hander was named a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and was the No. 8 rated overall player in the state of Tennessee by Perfect Game. Trammell was also named to the 2017 All-USA Tennessee Baseball first team.
#18 Chase Wallace (Fr. | RHP/INF | Sevierville, Tenn.)
Wallace hails from nearby Sevierville, Tenn., where he attended Sevier County High School. The right hander chose the Vols following a sophomore season in which he helped lead Sevier County to its first state tournament appearance in school history. Wallace finished the year with a 5-5 record, 3.38 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 60.0 innings of work. He was named a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and was ranked as the No. 9 right-handed pitcher and 14th overall player in the state of Tennessee by Perfect Game. Wallace is among a handful of players competing to be the team's closer this season.
#23 Riley Watkins (Fr. | RHP/INF | Eads, Tenn.)
Watkins is another Tennessee native that was part of the program's 2017 signing class. A two-way player, Watkins starred at Evangelical Christian School where he pitched and played shortstop. Watkins was named USA Today First-Team All-State, TSWA All-State, and a Tennessee Mr. Baseball Finalist as a senior in 2017. He was also a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and helped lead Evangelical Christian to two state titles (2013 & 2017).
Make sure to check back next week as we preview Tennessee's infielders and catchers.
The Volunteer's pitching staff is shaping up to be one of the strengths of this year's team with a solid mix of returners and talented newcomers. Learn more about each of UT's pitchers below.
Returners (In order of innings pitched in 2017)
#27 Garrett Stallings (So. | RHP | Chesapeake, Va.)
Stallings enters his sophomore season with increased expectations after a solid freshman campaign. The Chesapeake, Va., native is expected to be a major contributor this season and will be a key piece in the Vols' starting rotation. Stallings appeared in 20 games last season while making eight starts, eventually securing a spot as UT's Saturday starter. The right-hander finished the year with the second-lowest ERA among Tennessee pitchers who made six or more starts (3.47). In his debut season on Rocky Top, Stallings finished with a 3-4 record and 39 strikeouts through 70.0 innings of work.
#15 Will Neely (Jr. | RHP | Knoxville, Tenn.)
Neely enters his junior season as the Vols' most experienced pitcher with 39 career appearances, 14 career starts and 110.0 career innings pitched. The Knoxville native went 3-1 last season with a 3.43 ERA, which led all pitchers on the roster who threw 15 or more innings. He finished third on the team last season with 41 strikeouts and led all starting pitchers with a .213 opponent batting average. The right hander also played in the Cape Cod Baseball League over the summer, posting a 3.11 ERA and eight strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work. Neely is likely to be Tennessee's Sunday starter this season.
#25 Zach Linginfelter (So. | RHP | Sevierville, Tenn.)
Linginfelter will battle Stallings for the Friday night starter role this season after putting up some impressive numbers as a freshman in 2017. The hard-throwing righty made 22 appearances, including six starts, while posting a 3-4 record and three saves last year. Linginfelter finished the season with a 3.67 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 56.1 innings of work. His 61 punchouts ranked second on the team and are the most of any returning pitcher. Last week, the Sevierville, Tenn., native checked in at No. 72 on D1Baseball's Top 100 college prospects list. Linginfelter also made three appearances for the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Code League over the summer, where he allowed just one hit in three innings pitched.
#29 Daniel Vasquez (Jr. | RHP | El Cajon, Calif.)
Vasquez comes into the 2018 season as one of the more experienced pitchers on the Vols' roster with 32 career appearances and six starts to his name. The California native could see an expanded role for UT this season with a chance to compete for one of the team's midweek starter roles as well as provide depth in the bullpen. Vasquez went 2-1 last season and struck out 30 batters in 23.1 innings pitched, a significant bump from his freshman year when he recorded just 25 strikeouts in 31.0 innings pitched. The right hander had a solid showing in the California Collegiate League over the summer, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.02 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 26.2 innings pitched.
#30 Andrew Schultz (So. | RHP | Alpharetta, Ga.)
Schultz is yet another UT pitcher who will be competing for a larger role in 2018. The Alpharetta, Ga., native will look to build off a good freshman season which saw him work exclusively in a relief role. Schultz made 17 appearances and threw 16.1 innings while posting a 3.86 ERA. The right-hander finished the year with a 1-0 record and also recorded a save. Schultz struck out 19 batters on 14.0 innings over the summer as a member of the Valley Blue Sox in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. He should compete for some midweek starts as well as be a key contributor in the Vols' bullpen.
#11 Will Heflin (So. | LHP | Morristown, Tenn.)
Heflin is one of UT's two-way players as he saw both time on the mount and at designated hitter during his freshman campaign. The Morristown, Tenn., native made 12 relief appearances last season and posted one of the best ERA's on the team (2.93). In 15.1 innings pitched, Heflin allowed just five runs and held opponents to a .232 batting average. Heflin tossed 32.1 innings over the summer as a member of the Front Royal Cardinals of the Valley Baseball League, striking out 25 batters. The lefty will compete for the closer role for UT this season.
#17 Connor Darling (So. | RHP | Suwanee, Ga.)
Darling made nine appearances on the mound, including one start, in his debut campaign for the Vols. The Suwanee, Ga., native posted a 1-0 record with a 6.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in 12.0 innings pitched in 2017. Darling spent his summer with the Anchorage Bucs of the Alaska Baseball League where he went 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 16.0 innings of work. Darling will likely be used primarily as a relief pitcher this season.
#37 Richard Jackson (R-Jr. | RHP | Atlanta, Ga.)
Jackson is another player who could see an increased role and provide some much-needed depth in the bullpen for Tennessee in 2018. The redshirt junior right-hander made just two appearances and tossed only 2.2 innings last season, but had an impressive summer campaign with the Westhampton Aviators of the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League. Jackson led the league with seven saves, posted a 3-1 record and recorded a 0.53 ERA in 17.0 innings of work.
#28 Alex Harper-Cook (R-So. | LHP | Maryville, Tenn.)
Harper-Cook redshirted last season. As a true freshman in 2016, the Maryville native appeared in 15 games for the Vols, going 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA and 20 strikeouts through 23.1 innings of work. After a solid fall, the lefty should compete for innings out of the UT bullpen.
#46 Redmond Walsh (R-Fr. | LHP | Louisville, Tenn.)
Walsh redshirted last season after lettering all four years at nearby Alcoa High School. He was listed as the No. 5 left-handed pitcher in the state of Tennessee and a Top 200 lefty among national reports by Perfect Game in 2016.
Newcomers (In alphabetical order)
#20 Donovan Benoit (Fr. | RHP | Pensacola, Fla.)
Benoit comes to Tennessee from Pensacola, Fla., where he starred at Pensacola Catholic High School. The right hander was a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and earned FHSAA All-State honors as a senior. Benoit was a two-time All-Area selection and posted the lowest ERA in Pensacola Catholic history. He also batted .407 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs as a senior. Benoit was rated No. 14 in the state of Florida among right-handed pitchers and No. 50 overall in the state by Perfect Game.
#34 Garrett Crochet (Fr. | LHP | Ocean Springs, Miss.)
Following a breakout senior season at Ocean Springs High School in Mississippi, Crochet shot up the recruiting rankings and ended up choosing Tennessee over Texas. The left hander was selected in the 34th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers after going 6-4 with a 1.48 ERA and 76 strikeouts while leading Ocean Springs to a state semifinals appearance as a senior. Crochet should play a significant role as a reliever this season and is one of a handful of players competing to be the team's closer.
#32 Sean Hunley (Fr. | RHP | Mount Juliet, Tenn.)
Hunley joins the Vols after a stellar prep career at Mount Juliet High School. As a senior, Hunley led the Mount Juliet pitching staff with a 5-1 record and 1.04 ERA while earning All-District 9AAA and District All-Tournament honors. The right hander was a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and All-Southern Region second-team selection. Hunley was also a 2015 Under Armour Pre-Season All-American and was named to the 2015 Under Armour Freshman/Sophomore National team. Hunley was rated as the 28th overall player in the state of Tennessee by Perfect Game.
#33 Joshua Plummer (Fr. | RHP/OF | Mechanicsville, Va.)
A talented, multi-sport athlete from Hanover High School in Virginia, Plummer was rated the No. 4 outfielder and No. 22 overall player from the state of Virginia by Perfect Game rankings. A three-year varsity letterman and All-Academic student-athlete in baseball and basketball, Plummer helped lead his Hawks to a state championship on the diamond in 2016 as well as region and conference titles as a senior in 2017. The right hander was dubbed a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and was also an all-conference selection on the basketball court.
#41 Sam Springer (Fr. | LHP | Knoxville, Tenn.)
A Knoxville native, Springer joined the Vols following a standout career at West High School. Springer was a two-time National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF) All-American and a four-time All-District honoree at West High School. The lefty was also a two-time team MVP at West High School and a 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game Southeast Region Honorable Mention.
#26 Brandon Trammell (Fr. | RHP/INF | Knoxville, Tenn.)
Trammell, a Knoxville native and son of former Vol and big leaguer Thomas Bubba Trammell, chose the Vols over big-name programs Vanderbilt, North Carolina and Florida State. Trammell will be a two-way player for UT. The right hander was named a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and was the No. 8 rated overall player in the state of Tennessee by Perfect Game. Trammell was also named to the 2017 All-USA Tennessee Baseball first team.
#18 Chase Wallace (Fr. | RHP/INF | Sevierville, Tenn.)
Wallace hails from nearby Sevierville, Tenn., where he attended Sevier County High School. The right hander chose the Vols following a sophomore season in which he helped lead Sevier County to its first state tournament appearance in school history. Wallace finished the year with a 5-5 record, 3.38 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 60.0 innings of work. He was named a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and was ranked as the No. 9 right-handed pitcher and 14th overall player in the state of Tennessee by Perfect Game. Wallace is among a handful of players competing to be the team's closer this season.
#23 Riley Watkins (Fr. | RHP/INF | Eads, Tenn.)
Watkins is another Tennessee native that was part of the program's 2017 signing class. A two-way player, Watkins starred at Evangelical Christian School where he pitched and played shortstop. Watkins was named USA Today First-Team All-State, TSWA All-State, and a Tennessee Mr. Baseball Finalist as a senior in 2017. He was also a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and helped lead Evangelical Christian to two state titles (2013 & 2017).
Make sure to check back next week as we preview Tennessee's infielders and catchers.
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