Vols in Pro Baseball: Opening Day

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Baseball is underway across the country as all levels of Minor League Baseball officially kicked off action on Friday evening. Thirty-four former Tennessee Volunteers can be found from coast-to-coast playing in the major and minor leagues this year.

Trey Lipscomb has been red-hot to start his big-league career and highlights a fresh crop of young talent that is rising through the minor league ranks. Twenty-two of the 34 VFLs are in Double-A or higher and are knocking on the big-league door, looking to make an impact sooner rather than later.

Garrett Crochet has also been fantastic to start the 2024 season and has fans on the south side of Chicago thinking they may have found their next ace.

Read about all 34 former Vols below:

Vols in the MLB
Garrett Crochet – LHP, Chicago White Sox
Season: 2 App, 2 GS, 1-1, 1.38 ERA, 13 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 16 K, 0.69 WHIP, .174 BAA

Has been electric to start the season for the White Sox, turning in a pair of quality starts, first on Opening Day against Detroit, then again on April 2 against Atlanta. Crochet allowed just three hits and a run in his last outing against the Braves, striking out eight in his first victory of the season.

Yan Gomes – C, Chicago Cubs
Season: 5 G, 9 AB, 1 R, 0 H, 9 BB, 4 K,.000 AVG, .000 OBP, .000 SLG

Made the Opening Day start at catcher for the Chicago Cubs and enters his 13th season in the Big Leagues in 2024.

Trey Lipscomb – 3B, Washington Nationals
Season: 5 G, 18 AB, 4 R, 6 H, 9 TB, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 SB, .333 AVG, .368 OBP, .500 SLG

Earned his big-league callup on March 30 and has started every game since for the Nationals, turning heads with each passing day. Lipscomb homered in his second-career game and has amassed a pair of multi-hit contests in his five games in The Show. His stellar defense was on full display as he made a fantastic on-the-run throw to seal a 7-6 victory in his first-ever MLB game at Cincinnati on March 30.

Nick Senzel – 3B, Washington Nationals
15-Day Injured List

Was in line to start at third base on Opening Day for the Nationals, but was scratched from the lineup with a broken thumb. Senzel signed a free-agent deal with Washington on December 12, 2023.

Vols in the MiLB
Maui Ahuna – SS, San Jose Giants (Single-A SF)

Will kick off his first professional season at Single-A San Jose after being drafted in the fourth round by the San Francisco Giants in the 2023 draft.

Jordan Beck – OF, Albuquerque Isotopes (Triple-A COL)
Season: 6 G, 21 AB, 5 R, 7 H, 17 TB, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6 BB, 9 K,.333 AVG, .464 OBP, .810 SLG

Named the 2024 Abby Greer Award winner as Colorado's Spring Training MVP and ranks as the Rockies No. 4 prospect, No. 77 overall, heading into the season. Beck kicked off the 2024 campaign in Triple-A Albuquerque and belted a pair of home runs against El Paso in the opening series. Five of his seven hits through six games have gone for extra-bases.

Chad Dallas – RHP, Buffalo Bison (Triple-A TOR)
Season: 1 App, 1 GS, 0-0, 5.40 ERA, 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1.60 WHIP, .318 BAA

After earning a non-roster invite to Spring Training, Dallas was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo to begin the 2024 season. The No. 15 prospect in the Toronto system is looking to build on an impressive 2023 campaign where he was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star.

Zach Daniels – OF, Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Triple-A HOU)
7-Day Injured List
2023 Season: 84 G, 325 AB, 46 R, 90 H, 150 TB, 21 2B, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 32 BB, 114 K, 22 SB, 5 CS, .277 AVG, .349 OBP, .462 SLG

Will begin the 2024 season with Triple-A Sugar Land but was placed on the 7-day injured list on March 31. Daniels will look to continue his strong power numbers that have resulted in a .493 slugging percentage over the last two years.

Jared Dickey – OF, Quad Cities River Bandits (High-A KC)
2023 Season: 32 G,106 AB, 20 R, 35 H, 48 TB, 5 2B, 4 3B, 20 RBI, 14 BB, 13 K, 4 SB, 0 CS, .330 AVG, .425 OBP, .453 SLG

Opening the 2024 campaign in High-A Quad Cities after playing in 30 games for Single-A Columbia in 2023. For the Fireflies, Dickey posted a .330/.425/.453 slash line with 20 RBIs after being selected by the Kansas City Royals earlier in the summer.

Chase Dollander – RHP, Spokane Indians (High-A COL)
Was tabbed the Opening Day starter for Spokane and was dominant in his professional debut, tossing five hitless innings with eight strikeouts. Dollander also started for the Rockies in their Spring Breakout game, facing the minimum in one inning of work against Arizona.

Max Ferguson – 2B, Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A BOS)
2023 Season: 91 G, 320 AB, 52 R, 73 H, 109 TB, 17 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 34 RBI, 55 BB, 108 K, 28 SB, 4 CS .228 AVG, .346 OBP, .341 SLG

Promoted to Double-A Portland to open the 2024 season after winning a South Atlantic League championship with High-A Greenville in 2023. Ferguson split time between High-A and Triple-A Worchester in 2023.

Jake Fitzgibbons – LHP, Hillsboro Hops (High-A ARI)
2023 Season: 7 App, 1 GS, 0-1, 1 HLD, 5.00 ERA, 9 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 8 BB, 13 K, 1.67 WHIP, .206 BAA

Made seven appearances last season after being selected in the draft by Arizona. Fitzgibbons will open the year with High-A Hillsboro after quickly earning a promotion from Single-A Visalia late last August.

Drew Gilbert – OF, Syracuse Mets (Triple-A NYM)
Season: 4 G, 16 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 5 TB, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 8 K, .125 AVG, .222 OBP, .313 SLG

One of the most highly-touted prospects in the Mets' farm system, Gilbert begins the 2024 season in Triple-A Syracuse after earning a non-roster invite to Spring Training. The powerful outfielder jumpstarted the season with a home run in a 6-3 victory over Rochester and ranks as the No. 50 overall prospect.

Seth Halvorsen – RHP, Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A COL)
2023 Season: 13 App, 2-0, 2 HLD, 2.70 ERA,13.1 IP, 14 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 13 K, 1.35 WHIP, .275 BAA

Opens 2024 in Double-A Hartford after finishing the season with the Yard Goats a year ago. Halvorsen pitched for the Rockies' Breakout Game squad and had immediate success pitching after the 2023 draft, posting a 2-0 record with a pair of holds. Halvorsen maintained a 2.70 ERA across three different levels (ACL, High-A, Double-A).

Sean Hunley – RHP, Montgomery Biscuits (Double-A TB)
Season: 27 App, 26 GS, 5-8, 4.92 ERA, 113.1 IP, 120 H, 74 R, 62 ER, 27 BB, 99 K, 1.30 WHIP, .273 BAA

Back in Double-A Montgomery to open 2024 after starting a career-best 26 games a season ago across Double-A and Triple-A. Hunley continues to develop, posting his highest single-season strikeout total while lowering his BABIP (batting average on balls in play) to its lowest mark in the minor leagues.

Bryce Jenkins – RHP, TBD (NYM)
2023 Season: 5 App, 0-1, 2 HLD, 9.00 ERA, 4 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, 2.50 WHIP, .316 BAA

Still awaiting assignment for the 2024 season but pitched in 2023 for Single-A St. Lucie and logged a pair of holds in five games pitched.

Ben Joyce – RHP, Rocket City Trash Pandas (Double-A, LAA)
2023 Season (MLB): 12 App, 1-1, 4 HLD, 5.40 ERA, 10 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 9 BB, 10 K, 1.80 WHIP, .243 BAA
2023 Season (MiLB): 16 App, 0-1, 4/5 SV, 2 HLD, 4.08 ERA, 17.2 IP, 8 H, 12 R, 8 ER, 14 BB, 26 K, 1.25 WHIP, .138 BAA

Will open the season in the minors with Double-A Rocket City after making his major league debut in 2023 for the Los Angeles Angels. Joyce and his sizzling fastball caught the attention of many around the professional ranks of baseball last year and he will look to continue his development at the start of 2024. Joyce remains on the Angels 40-man roster and is the Angels' No. 4 prospect.

Zach Joyce – RHP, Inland Empire 66ers (Single-A, LAA)
2023 Season (MiLB): 11 App, 0-1, 1/1 SV, 3 HLD, 2.53 ERA, 10.2 IP, 9 H, 12 R, 8 ER, 14 BB, 26 K, 1.25 WHIP, .138 BAA

Will open the season in the minors with Double-A Rocket City after making his major league debut in 2023 for the Los Angeles Angels. Joyce and his sizzling fastball caught the attention of many around the professional ranks of baseball last year and he will look to continue his development at the start of 2024. Joyce remains on the Angels 40-man roster and is the Angels' No. 4 prospect.

Cortland Lawson – SS, Harrisburg Senators (Double-A WAS)
2023 Season: 77 G, 260 AB, 43 R, 70 H, 91 TB, 11 2B, 5 3B, 32 RBI, 31 BB, 93 K, 10 SB, 2 CS, .269 AVG, .363 OBP, .350 SLG

Lawson earned a late promotion to Double-A Harrisburg to start the 2024 season after ending the last year with the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks. Lawson had a strong first full season of professional baseball, logging a .363 OBP and a BABIP of .412.

Jackson Leath – RHP, TBD (TEX)
2023 Season: 35 App, 7-2, 2 HLD, 2/2 SV, 1.86 ERA, 48.1 IP, 28 H, 15 R, 10 ER, 21 BB, 50 K, 1.01 WHIP, .164 BAA

Awaiting his assignment for 2024 after an electric 2023 season that saw him turn in a 1.86 ERA over 48.1 innings. Leath carded a 7-2 record and was perfect in save opportunities in 35 games between Single-A Down East and High-A Hickory.

Andrew Lindsey – RHP, Charleston RiverDogs (Single-A, TB)
2023 Season: 2 App, 2 GS, 0-1, 8.31 ERA, 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1.62 WHIP, .316 BAA

Traded from the Miami Marlins to the Tampa Bay Rays over the offseason and will make his organizational debut for the Charleston RiverDogs. Lindsey ranks as the Rays' No. 29 prospect.

Andre Lipcius – 2B, Oklahoma City Baseball Club (Triple-A LAD)
Season: 5 G, 21 AB, 6 R, 7 H, 14 TB, 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 K, 2 SB, .333 AVG, .333 OBP, .667 SLG

After making his major-league debut in 2023 for the Detroit Tigers, Lipcius was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers and is starting the year in Triple-A Oklahoma City where he is off to a roaring start. In his first game of the season, at Tacoma on March 30, the infielder blasted two home runs in a three-hit, five-RBI night. He has two multi-hit games already and has knocks in four of his five games played.

Will Mabrey – LHP, Amarillo Sod Poodles (Double-A ARI)
2023 Season: 43 App, 2 GS, 7-1, 3.00 ERA, 6 HLD, 4/7 SV, 66 IP, 49 H, 23 R, 22 ER, 30 BB, 64 K, 1.20 WHIP, .213 BAA

Looking to continue the momentum of a fantastic 2023 season where he showed versatility on the mound and excelled in each of his roles. Mabrey was added to Arizona's Spring Breakout roster after rising from Single-A to Double-A last season and boasting a sub-4 ERA at each level.

Mark McLaughlin – RHP, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Single-CWS)
2023 Season: 21 App, 9GS, 1-8, 11.19 ERA, 50.2 IP, 81 H, 75 R, 63 ER, 44 BB, 50 K, 2.47 WHIP, .362 BAA

Will open the 2024 season with Single-A Kannapolis after concluding his first full pro season in the Florida Complex League.

Jorel Ortega – SS, Wichita Wind Surge (Double-A MIN)
2023 Season: 120 G, 456 AB, 84 R, 117 H, 203 TB, 34 2B, 5 3B, 14 HR, 74 RBI, 69 BB, 133 K, 27 SB, 7 CS, .257 AVG, .361 OBP, .445 SLG

Promoted to Double-A Wichita to open the 2024 season after totaling 117 hits, 53 extra-base hits, 14 home runs, 84 runs scored and 74 RBIs in 2023 between Single-A Ft. Myers and High-A Cedar Rapids last year.

Connor Pavolony – C, Bowie Baysox (Double-A BAL)
2023 Season: 27 G, 88 AB, 10 R, 12 H, 17 TB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 12 BB, 36 K, 1 SB, .136 AVG, .262 OBP, .193 SLG

Back with Double-A Bowie after being named to the Orioles Spring Breakout roster. Pavolony also played in the Arizona Fall League with the Mesa Solar Sox where he appeared in 13 games, tallying six hits and a home run.

Jake Rucker – 2B, Wichita Wind Surge (Double-A MIN)
2023 Season: 119 G, 420 AB, 51 R, 104 H, 160 TB, 21 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 63 RBI, 42 BB, 123 K, 10 SB, 11 CS, .248 AVG, .323 OBP, .381 SLG

Reached the. 100-hit benchmark for the second time as a professional in 2023 and is back with Double-A Wichita to start the 2024 season.

Andrew Schultz – RHP, Reading Fightin Phils (Double-A PHI)
2023 Season: 34 App, 1-3, 2 HLD, 5.97 ERA, 37.2 IP, 35 H, 30 R, 25 ER, 31 BB, 41 K, 1.73 WHIP, .254 BAA

Remains with Double-A Reading after closing the 2023 season with the Fightin Phils.

Alerick Soularie – OF, Wichita Wind Surge (Double-A MIN)
2023 Season: 79 G, 225 AB, 41 R, 52 H, 92 TB, 5 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 33 RBI, 39 BB, 75 K, 22 SB, 5 CS, .231 AVG, .356 OBP, .409 SLG

The third of three VFLs on Double-A Wichita, Soularie continues to make strides in multiple aspects of his game, increasing his power and average numbers in 2023 while lowering his strikeout totals. The outfielder also swiped a career-best 22 bags in a full season with Wichita last year.

Garrett Stallings – RHP, Norfolk Tides (Triple-A BAL)
Season: 2 App, 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2.25 WHIP, .438 BAA

Off and racing in his 2024 season with Triple-A Norfolk after a tremendous 2023 between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. Thus far, Stallings has come out of the bullpen twice for Norfolk thus far.

Drew Steckenrider – RHP, Las Vegas Aviators (Triple-A OAK)
Restricted List

Remains on the restricted list with Las Vegas.

Seth Stephenson – OF, West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A DET)
2023 Season: 113 G, 425 AB, 95 R, 119 H, 170 TB, 21 2B, 9 3B, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 42 BB, 108 K, 70 SB, 15 CS, .280 AVG, .381 OBP, .400 SLG

Opens the 2024 year with High-A West Michigan after finishing the year with the Whitecaps in 2023. Stephenson had a strong slash line of .280/.381/.400 at the end of the year and had incredible baserunning numbers with 70 steals.

Blade Tidwell – RHP, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A NYM)
2023 Season: 25 App, 25 GS, 11-6, 3.57 ERA, 116 IP, 87 H, 50 R, 46 ER, 63 BB, 153 K, 1.29 WHIP, .210 BAA

Looking to continue his successes from last year in Double-A Binghamton. Tidwell was a workhorse for the Rumble Ponies, logging an 11-6 record with 116 innings while punching out 153 and conceding just 87 hits. The powerful right-hander currently sits as the Mets' No. 10 overall prospect.

Chase Wallace – RHP, Quad Cities River Bandits (High-A KC)
2023 Season: 27 App, 3-1, 3.18 ERA, 39.2 IP, 38 H, 18 R, 14 ER, 12 BB, 42 K, 1.26 WHIP, .252 BAA

Elevated to High-A Quad Cities after a strong finish to the 2023 year with Single-A Columbia. Wallace had a career high in strikeouts last year while posting career-lows in ERA, WHIP and BAA.

University of Tennessee Athletics

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Maui Ahuna

Jared Dickey

Chase Dollander

Jake Fitzgibbons

Seth Halvorsen

Bryce Jenkins

Zach Joyce

Andrew Lindsey

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