*****Portal Watch

[TheBigOne10]

Tony putting in the work already!

 

[Edixon2]

C: Wright
1B: grimmer
2B: open
SS: Open
3B: Manny
LF: Clark
CF: Abernathy
RF: Newstrom
DH: Myatt

As of now (don’t yell at me if I’m forgetting someone)

 

[Batman1948]

34 man roster is plenty. That's 17 pitchers and 17 position players.

You're gonna need more than 17 pitchers with the 34-man roster. I think a premium will be placed on guys who can play multiple positions

 

[rockytop25]

Sounds like he may play OF for the Vols? We shall see

Update: played in the OF for 22 games this past year

 

[docholiday]

Dude is a straight up stone cold killer. Perfect fit for the VOLS and TV style of play.

 

[vol94]

No doubt. Can’t win em all though

too much drama from his family

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

too much drama from his family

Go on, give us the tea

 

[Pawleysvol]

C: Wright
1B: grimmer
2B: open
SS: Open
3B: Manny
LF: Clark
CF: Abernathy
RF: Newstrom
DH: Myatt

As of now (don’t yell at me if I’m forgetting someone)

Manny will likely be the SS

 

[vol94]

Go on, give us the tea

Not gonna say too much. But will say his father has always had a higher opinion Than the coaches - all levels.

 

[taylorvol]

You're gonna need more than 17 pitchers with the 34-man roster. I think a premium will be placed on guys who can play multiple positions

Not really. Looking at the past 5 seasons, SEC teams have used an average of 13 hitters and 14 pitchers for any material playing time (defined as pitching at least 9 innings or 40 at bats). TN has averaged 14 hitters and 13 pitchers over the past 5 seasons. The SEC has a 27 man active roster for weekend series. The 34 man roster will just end stockpiling talent and having extra depth. NOTE: Before COVID, rosters were limited to 35.
Source: D1 Baseball

 

[NighthawkVol]

That gives Tennessee 7 catchers for next year, which doesn’t count Peebles, who I assume is going pro.

Needless to say, some trimming will be done at that position, especially the incoming freshmen. Perhaps one or two of them can play other positions.

 

[preacherman20]

You're gonna need more than 17 pitchers with the 34-man roster. I think a premium will be placed on guys who can play multiple positions

We have not used 17 pitchers in Tony's time here for any significant innings. Normally it is 10-12.

 

[cardvolfan]

Sounds like he may play OF for the Vols? We shall see

Update: played in the OF for 22 games this past year

Wright had some very intriguing stats this year: 28 HBP, .513 OBP, SO rate 9.0 %, and of course that .406 BA. His SLG % was .663 which is very good, but not Andrew Fischer good. Fischer’s final OBP % was .497.

This kid is really good and apparently really good defensively. The question becomes is how this will translate to the uptick in talent coming to the SEC. Billy Amick had a great season at Tennessee, but experienced some dropoff compared to his previous year at Clemson. BA down from .413 to .306, slugging down from .772 to .639, and OBP down from .464 to .387.

I’m not being critical of anyone here, as all these numbers are excellent years, but rather throwing data out that might, or might not, give us some clues as to what to expect in the future.

 

[Gilbert]

Loy in the portal.

 

[Volz865]

Loy in the portal.

He wants a chance to start. Can’t blame him

 

[Bigvalley84]

I’d agree Loy wants a chance to start , I hate to see him go being a local kid

 

[BigorangeBoy]

Ben McKee at 247 said it was that he wanted to start, but that the staff wouldn’t guarantee it.

 

[6-4-3]

Ben McKee at 247 said it was that he wanted to start, but that the staff wouldn’t guarantee it.

That’s a part of it for sure…..

 

[TheBigOne10]

That’s a part of it for sure…..

Sucks. Always had a soft spot for local kids.

 

[darsinewman]

He wants a chance to start. Can’t blame him

Agree, can’t blame him, but this hurts my heart. Big fan of that kid.

 

[cncchris33]

One of the "surprises" we've heard mentioned, I guess, but not too surprising if his goal was starting. Not sure he projects strongly as a high-level starter for a perennial top-10 SEC team. He certainly provided us with a great relief guy who could eat up innings if necessary, and a guy who had a different pitching arsenal rather than just throwing smoke. Probably a guy who is great in that starter role at Georgia Tech, Southern Miss, Coastal Carolina, Dallas Baptist, etc, though. Good luck to him.

 

[Volgrandpa]

That’s a part of it for sure…..

You mean there is more to it? Imagine that.

 

[VolPack22]

One of the "surprises" we've heard mentioned, I guess, but not too surprising if his goal was starting. Not sure he projects strongly as a high-level starter for a perennial top-10 SEC team. He certainly provided us with a great relief guy who could eat up innings if necessary, and a guy who had a different pitching arsenal rather than just throwing smoke. Probably a guy who is great in that starter role at Georgia Tech, Southern Miss, Coastal Carolina, Dallas Baptist, etc, though. Good luck to him.

He can go to the Big Ten and dominate.

 

[Rocky Top T]

Loy in the portal.

Big loss. He could give you a bunch of options

 

[cncchris33]

He can go to the Big Ten and dominate.

Yeah, I just threw out some schools that are a tick below the top level SEC schools and a few ACC schools. I think all of those programs are better than the majority of the Big10, especially the old Big10. Loy could definitely go there and make a tremendous impact.