Roster Construction 2026

#326
#326
taylorvol said:
According to research done by D1 Baseball:

“Returning production is pivotal to building a successful program and maintaining success. One takeaway from that story, which looked at Wins Above Replacement (WAR) data from 2022-25, was that “roster retention, not additions, is the strongest driver in the increase in win percentage.”


Worth noting, for the 2026 season, TN ranked #167 out of 300 D1 programs.
TEAM. CONFPTS %.RET (RK)PA (RK)IP (RK)
167. TennesseeSEC27% 33% (286)40% (235)20% (293)
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I wonder how compelling that data will be for this season given the culling of rosters necessary to get under the new scholarship limits?
 
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#327
#327
cncchris33 said:
I wonder how compelling that data will be for this season given the culling of rosters necessary to get under the new scholarship limits?
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Honestly, I don’t think it’s going to impact it as much as some people think. My guess is most teams that invest in college baseball had 4 to 6 DSAs so rosters are likely closer to 38 or 39 vs 34. With that said, it will be interesting to see…
 
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#329
#329
Gilbert said:
Didn’t exactly know where to put this, but didn’t Dylan Loy leave to become a starter? Or just more innings overall? He’s not in GT’s opening weekend rotation.
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GT is loaded and #3 in the country. Charlie Wilcox, stud freshman, apparently beat out Dylan Loy for Sunday starts. This could easily change as all 3 weekend starters are RHP. It wouldn’t surprise me if Loy piggybacks with one of the starters this weekend. He‘s in a great spot to succeed.
 
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#330
#330
taylorvol said:
GT is loaded and #3 in the country. Charlie Wilcox, stud freshman, apparently beat out Dylan Loy for Sunday starts. This could easily change as all 3 weekend starters are RHP. It wouldn’t surprise me if Loy piggybacks with one of the starters this weekend. He‘s in a great spot to succeed.
Click to expand...

I know GT should be really good so I wasn’t sure where he was in the pecking order as a starter or what his role looked like. Sounds like it’s a good situation for him though. Hope he does well.
 
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#331
#331
Gilbert said:
I know GT should be really good so I wasn’t sure where he was in the pecking order as a starter or what his role looked like. Sounds like it’s a good situation for him though. Hope he does well.
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Yes, for sure. It was apparently super close as a few writers had Loy as the Sunday starter. I bet he will eventually be….
 
#332
#332
taylorvol said:
Opening Day Lineup:
Best Guesstimate
CF Abernathy. L
3B Ford. R
LF Brown L
1B Clark. R
DH. Myatt L
SS Marin. R
RF Chapman. L
C Lawless. R
2B Newstrom R

NOTE: likely to see 2 different lineups on opening weekend.
Grimmer is out due to lower back injury; Antigua is questionable
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Update, Ariel Antigua has been cleared and has been fully participating in team activities this week. With that said, I think he starts tonight. I’m guessing that we see 2 different lineups with different options at DH and giving Lawless a breather for game 3 (purposely calling it game 3 vs Sunday because it’s possible to have a DH on Sat due to heavy rain forecasted on Sunday).
Normally it would be Garrett Wright but since he’s recovering from hand surgery, it will likely be Levi Clark giving Hunter High or even Evan Hankins a spot start at 1B. Of course, they could give freshman sensation,Trent Grindlinger, an opportunity at C as well. Keep in mind, both Blake Grimmer and Garrett Wright are out due to injuries.
Opening Weekend Lineup A:
CF Abernathy. L
3B Ford. R
LF Brown L
1B Clark. R
RF Chapman L
2B Marin. R
DH Myatt L
C Lawless. R
SS Antigua R

Opening Lineup B:
CF Abernathy. L
3B Ford. R
LF Brown L
1B Clark. R
DH. Myatt L
SS Marin. R
RF Chapman. L
C Lawless. R
2B Newstrom R
 
#333
#333
taylorvol said:
Update, Ariel Antigua has been cleared and has been fully participating in team activities this week. With that said, I think he starts tonight. I’m guessing that we see 2 different lineups with different options at DH and giving Lawless a breather for game 3 (purposely calling it game 3 vs Sunday because it’s possible to have a DH on Sat due to heavy rain forecasted on Sunday).
Normally it would be Garrett Wright but since he’s recovering from hand surgery, it will likely be Levi Clark giving Hunter High or even Evan Hankins a spot start at 1B. Of course, they could give freshman sensation,Trent Grindlinger, an opportunity at C as well. Keep in mind, both Blake Grimmer and Garrett Wright are out due to injuries.
Opening Weekend Lineup A:
CF Abernathy. L
3B Ford. R
LF Brown L
1B Clark. R
RF Chapman L
2B Marin. R
DH Myatt L
C Lawless. R
SS Antigua R

Opening Lineup B:
CF Abernathy. L
3B Ford. R
LF Brown L
1B Clark. R
DH. Myatt L
SS Marin. R
RF Chapman. L
C Lawless. R
2B Newstrom R
Click to expand...
Would Grimmer normally be an option at 1B if healthy or are High and Hankins ahead of him there?
 
#334
#334
taylorvol said:
Update, Ariel Antigua has been cleared and has been fully participating in team activities this week. With that said, I think he starts tonight. I’m guessing that we see 2 different lineups with different options at DH and giving Lawless a breather for game 3 (purposely calling it game 3 vs Sunday because it’s possible to have a DH on Sat due to heavy rain forecasted on Sunday).
Normally it would be Garrett Wright but since he’s recovering from hand surgery, it will likely be Levi Clark giving Hunter High or even Evan Hankins a spot start at 1B. Of course, they could give freshman sensation,Trent Grindlinger, an opportunity at C as well. Keep in mind, both Blake Grimmer and Garrett Wright are out due to injuries.
Opening Weekend Lineup A:
CF Abernathy. L
3B Ford. R
LF Brown L
1B Clark. R
RF Chapman L
2B Marin. R
DH Myatt L
C Lawless. R
SS Antigua R

Opening Lineup B:
CF Abernathy. L
3B Ford. R
LF Brown L
1B Clark. R
DH. Myatt L
SS Marin. R
RF Chapman. L
C Lawless. R
2B Newstrom R
Click to expand...
On yesterday's VQ pod, Cain didn't seem to think Myatt was the DH in Grimmer's absence. He thought Eisfelder or one of the other freshmen.
 
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#335
#335
NighthawkVol said:
Would Grimmer normally be an option at 1B if healthy or are High and Hankins ahead of him there?
Click to expand...
Not sure as the scrimmages I attended, Grimmer was injured. In the past, Grimmer has been in LF, 3B, and 1B so assure that hasn’t changed. I just don’t know where he would be on an official depth chart. I think he’d be at DH or LF if healthy—-at least against RH Starters.
 
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#336
#336
NighthawkVol said:
On yesterday's VQ pod, Cain didn't seem to think Myatt was the DH in Grimmer's absence. He thought Eisfelder or one of the other freshmen.
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I think it depends on how E likes to balance out the lineup. V liked to alternate L to R hitters, but E may be more open to more RH hitters. If so, I think Eisfelder gets the start. I’m betting he doesn’t want to stack more than 2 RH hitters, thus going with Myatt (other LH hitting options at DH would be Hunter High or Hutson Chance until Grimmer’s healthy. Of course, this is assuming Brown gets the start in LF as he will be DHing a lot and when scheduled to pitch IMHO.
 
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#337
#337
taylorvol said:
Not sure as the scrimmages I attended, Grimmer was injured. In the past, Grimmer has been in LF, 3B, and 1B so assure that hasn’t changed. I just don’t know where he would be on an official depth chart. I think he’d be at DH or LF if healthy—-at least against RH Starters.
Click to expand...
It feels like we have so many talented bats this year that we'll be rotating at DH all year. I loved the setup in 2022 when Burke/Moore were freshmen and we platooned them at DH depending on whether we were facing a LHP or RHP. Feels like we could do that again this year, but with many more options. Grimmer/Myatt/Brown vs. RHPs and Grindlinger/Eisfelder/Chance vs. LHPs. Others like Newstrom, Tracy, High, and Cash Williams might play into that rotation, depending on how the other positions shake out.

On paper, this team seems to have a ton of bats, especially with this freshman class being so talented.
 
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#338
#338
taylorvol said:
Update, Ariel Antigua has been cleared and has been fully participating in team activities this week. With that said, I think he starts tonight. I’m guessing that we see 2 different lineups with different options at DH and giving Lawless a breather for game 3 (purposely calling it game 3 vs Sunday because it’s possible to have a DH on Sat due to heavy rain forecasted on Sunday).
Normally it would be Garrett Wright but since he’s recovering from hand surgery, it will likely be Levi Clark giving Hunter High or even Evan Hankins a spot start at 1B. Of course, they could give freshman sensation,Trent Grindlinger, an opportunity at C as well. Keep in mind, both Blake Grimmer and Garrett Wright are out due to injuries.
Opening Weekend Lineup A:
CF Abernathy. L
3B Ford. R
LF Brown L
1B Clark. R
RF Chapman L
2B Marin. R
DH Myatt L
C Lawless. R
SS Antigua R

Opening Lineup B:
CF Abernathy. L
3B Ford. R
LF Brown L
1B Clark. R
DH. Myatt L
SS Marin. R
RF Chapman. L
C Lawless. R
2B Newstrom R
Click to expand...
Interesting you see lineup A having Antigua at SS and Marin at 2B. With Antigua and newstrom seemingly still battling I would have Marin play SS with both lineups. Given his youth and inexperience at the position, I think he needs reps more than anything and I’m not sure I like having him flip back and forth depending on who is in the lineup.
 
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#339
#339
taylorvol said:
Update, Ariel Antigua has been cleared and has been fully participating in team activities this week. With that said, I think he starts tonight. I’m guessing that we see 2 different lineups with different options at DH and giving Lawless a breather for game 3 (purposely calling it game 3 vs Sunday because it’s possible to have a DH on Sat due to heavy rain forecasted on Sunday).
Normally it would be Garrett Wright but since he’s recovering from hand surgery, it will likely be Levi Clark giving Hunter High or even Evan Hankins a spot start at 1B. Of course, they could give freshman sensation,Trent Grindlinger, an opportunity at C as well. Keep in mind, both Blake Grimmer and Garrett Wright are out due to injuries.
Opening Weekend Lineup A:
CF Abernathy. L
3B Ford. R
LF Brown L
1B Clark. R
RF Chapman L
2B Marin. R
DH Myatt L
C Lawless. R
SS Antigua R

Opening Lineup B:
CF Abernathy. L
3B Ford. R
LF Brown L
1B Clark. R
DH. Myatt L
SS Marin. R
RF Chapman. L
C Lawless. R
2B Newstrom R
Click to expand...
What is Antigua's injury? I didn't know he was hurt.
 
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#341
#341
volforlife15 said:
Interesting you see lineup A having Antigua at SS and Marin at 2B. With Antigua and newstrom seemingly still battling I would have Marin play SS with both lineups. Given his youth and inexperience at the position, I think he needs reps more than anything and I’m not sure I like having him flip back and forth depending on who is in the lineup.
Click to expand...
You were dead right. That’s a deadly dp combo with Marin at SS and Ariel at 2B.
 
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#342
#342
NighthawkVol said:
It feels like we have so many talented bats this year that we'll be rotating at DH all year. I loved the setup in 2022 when Burke/Moore were freshmen and we platooned them at DH depending on whether we were facing a LHP or RHP. Feels like we could do that again this year, but with many more options. Grimmer/Myatt/Brown vs. RHPs and Grindlinger/Eisfelder/Chance vs. LHPs. Others like Newstrom, Tracy, High, and Cash Williams might play into that rotation, depending on how the other positions shake out.

On paper, this team seems to have a ton of bats, especially with this freshman class being so talented.
Click to expand...
So I think I like Myatt at DH. 😉
 
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#347
#347
volforlife15 said:
We were both half right lol was not expecting to see a lineup without Manny this early
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I was surprised but then remembered that someone I know told me he injured his hand during last Sunday’s final scrimmage. Apparently it was aggravated during or after Friday’s game as I read a tweet that mentioned it today from one of the beat writers. I don’t think it’s anything really serious but hope they are just being extra careful this early in the season.
 
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