2024 Baseball Roster | National Champions | SEC Champions (x2)
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Connell, Kirby
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Jersey Number 35
Kirby Connell
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Position:
- LHP
- B/T:
- S/L
- Ht/Wt:
- 5-11 / 196
- Hometown:
- Johnson City, Tenn.
- High School:
- Blacksburg HS (SC)
Bio
CAREER BESTS
- Innings Pitched: 5.0 // vs. Georgia, 3/30/24
- Runs Allowed: 0 (74x) // last vs. Texas A&M, 6/24/24
- ER Allowed: 0 (97x) // last vs. Texas A&M, 6/24/24
- Strikeouts: 5 (3x) // last vs. Georgia, 5/14/21
- Walks: 0 (105x) // last vs. Texas A&M, 6/24/24
- Hits Allowed: 0 (63x) // last vs. Evansville, 6/9/24
- Wild Pitches: 0 (121x) // last vs. Texas A&M, 6/23/24
- Putouts: 2 // vs. Kentucky, 5/5/22
- Assists: 2 (2x) // last vs. Missouri, 4/26/24
CAREER HONOR
- 2024 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2023 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2022 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2022 SEC Community Service Team
- VOLeaders Academy Class of 2020-21
- 2021 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2019-20 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
2024
- Ended his illustrious Tennessee career by throwing in all three games of the College World Series Finals against #3 Florida State to help lead the Vols to its first National Championship in program history.
- Didn't allow a run during 1.2 innings of work against #8 Florida State (6/19) to help send the Vols to the CWS finals.
- Threw two scoreless innings during Tennessee's win over #4 North Carolina (6/16).
- Didn't allow a hit in two innings during the NCAA regional to shut down Northern Kentucky (5/31).
- Struck out two batters in 1.2 innings of work during the victory over South Carolina (5/16).
- Picked up his fourth save of the season after slamming the door on the Gators (5/3) in the ninth.
- Tallied a save thanks to two scoreless innings to close out the win over Missouri (4/27) to clinch the series sweep.
- Was incredible for the Vols in relief, posting a career-long outing of five innings pitched on 94 total pitches to earn the win against Georgia (3/30) and improve to 3-0 this season
- Picked up his second win of the season over Xavier (3/19) thanks to 2.1 innings of scoreless work.
- Tallied three scoreless innings to pick up the save against Southern Indiana (3/6).
- Pitched one inning of no-hit baseball against Bowling Green (3/3), picking up the win and striking out two batters in the process.
- Went 1.2 innings, striking out two batters and allowing a run, to assist the Vols to a win over High Point (2/27).
- Made season debut against UAlbany (2/25), retiring the only batter he faced.
2023
- Appeared in the first game of the College World Series, securing an out of relief against #5 LSU (6/17)
- Struck out the only batter he faced against Eastern Kentucky (4/11)
- Pitched one shutout inning of relief against UNC Asheville (3/28)
- Threw one scoreless inning earning his first win of the season over Gonzaga (3/4)
- Pitched one scoreless inning of relief in win over Charleston Southern (2/28)
- Struck out the only batter he faced to get the Vols out of a late-inning game at Grand Canyon (2/18)
- Made his season debut in season opener vs. Arizona (2/17) at the MLB Desert Invitational, retiring the only batter he faced
2022
- Retired the last 20 hitters he has faced, entering the SEC Tournament
- Wiggled out of a bases-loaded, one out jam and earned his third victory of the season, tossing 2.2 perfect innings and striking out one
- Terrific in the series finale vs. Georgia, throwing 2 flawless innings as the first reliever out of the 'pen and tying a career-high in strikeouts with five
- Earned his second victory of the season, going 1.1 innings against Bellarmine (5/10)
- Pitched one shutout inning and recorded two strikeouts in the win over Auburn (4/29)
- Recorded one strikeout in 1.1 shutout innings in relief in the win over Xavier (4/26)
- Tossed one scoreless inning in the win over Bellarmine (4/19)
- Recorded two strikeouts in one shutout inning in relief vs. Tennessee Tech (4/12)
- Threw one shutout inning in relief in win over Ole Miss (3/25)
- Pitched a career high 4.2 innings with four strikeouts in win over Baylor (3/5), recording his first win of the year
- Recorded two strikeouts and zero hits in one shutout inning vs. Iona (2/25)
- Had three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work in win against Georgia Southern (2/20)
- Made season debut against Georgia Southern (2/18), pitching two shutout innings
2021
- Was one of the Vols' top relievers, posting a 1-1 record, two saves and a 3.00 ERA in 26 appearances. Also struck out 39 batters and issued just three walks in 42.0 innings pitched
- Threw one shutout inning of relief in SEC Tournament win over Alabama (5/28)
- Allowed just two hits in three shutout innings of relief in series-clinching win at Missouri (5/8)
- Had two strikeouts in one scoreless inning of relief in win vs. Kentucky (4/29)
- Pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to finish off a win vs. Vanderbilt (4/17)
- Earned his second save in win at Western Carolina (4/13)
- Tied a career high with five strikeouts and held No. 9 Florida to one run over the final three innings to record his first-career save (4/10)
- Set a career high with five strikeouts in three solid innings of relief at Alabama (4/4)
- Had four strikeouts in 2.2 shutout innings of relief vs. LSU (3/27)
- Allowed just one hit and had a strikeout in 1.2 scoreless innings of relief during his SEC debut at Georgia (3/20)
- Earned his first-career win after tossing two scoreless innings and tying a career high with three strikeouts vs. ETSU (3/16)
- Struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning vs. UNC Greensboro (3/13)
- Struck out two batters and allowed one unearned run in three innings of relief at Charlotte (3/9)
- Tied a career high with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings of relief vs. Georgia State (3/5)
- Allowed just one hit and tied a career high with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings of relief work against Indiana State (2/27), retiring 13 straight batters at one point
2020
- Made four relief appearances and pitched 5.2 innings as a true freshman during shortened 2020 season (COVID-19)
- Threw 1.1 scoreless innings of relief in series finale against Wright State (3/8)
- Pitched 2.0 shutout innings and recorded a career-high three strikeouts against Longwood (3/3)
- Made his first-career appearance, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with two strikeouts in win over Northern Kentucky (2/25)
HIGH SCHOOL
- Graduated from Blacksburg High School in South Carolina after spending two years at Butler High School in Missouri
- Four-time All-State section
- Three-time Perfect Game Preseason All-American
- Named South Carolina Coaches Association Class 2A Player of the Year in 2018
- Earned back-to-back All-Region Player of the Year and Diamond Prospects 2A Player of the Year awards in 2018 and 2019
- Rated as a Top 500 player by Perfect Game
- Over his four-year prep career, Connell posted 13 shutouts and threw five no-hitters while posting 27-5 record with a 0.29 ERA and 434 strikeouts. He also put up huge numbers at the plate with a career .396 batting average, 101 runs scored, 15 home runs and 82 RBI
- Set numerous records during his time at Butler High School, including state records for single-season ERA (0.00) and consecutive innings pitched without an earned run (59.1).
- Helped lead Butler High to a 22-3 record and their first-ever District Title as a sophomore
PERSONAL
- Full name is Kirby Myles Connell
- Born on Aug. 30, 2000
- Pursuing a master's degree in agricultural leadership, education & communication
- Earned his bachelor's degree in public administration from the Haslam College of Business in May 2023
- Son of Jeff and Kim Connell
- Has two older siblings: Cody and Kevin Connell
- Was a standout student, earning Missouri All-State Academic Team honors in 2017
- Member of the National Honor Society and served as Beta Club Vice President
- Grew up in nearby Johnson City, Tenn., before moving to Missouri in eighth grade
- Recipient of the Catherine & Paul Mountcastle Scholarship Fund
BSB | Tennessee Super Regional Postgame Presser at Arkansas (6.8.25)
Sunday, June 08
BSB | Tennessee Super Regional Postgame Presser at Arkansas (6.7.25)
Saturday, June 07
BSB | Tennessee Official Super Regional Preview Press Conference (6.6.25)
Friday, June 06
BSB | Tony Vitello Pre-NCAA Super Regional Media Availability (6.5.25)
Thursday, June 05
