Everyone knew Tennessee had to take a big step this offseason, with Josh Elander finally getting his first chance to really shake things up in Knoxville. He’s had to make some tough decisions, like parting ways with pitching coach Josh Reynolds, and some key contributors have left through the portal. But overall, Elander has made the difficult moves needed to take this team to the next level.
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So far, Tennessee has already landed All-American two-way star Braydon Kersey from Mercer and elite bullpen arm Brady Trosclair, but the Vols may have gotten their best addition yet.
Mountain West Freshman of the Year Wyatt Hanoian has committed to Tennessee, as Elander beat out several big-time SEC schools for his commitment. LSU, Florida, Texas A&M, and Arkansas were all in the mix for the star utility player, but the Vols have done it again, adding another big-time portal player to the 2027 roster.
NEW: Air Force transfer Wyatt Hanoian has committed to Tennessee.
— Ben McKee (@benmckee14) June 16, 2026
Hanoian was the Mountain West Freshman of the Year this season. He hit .357 with six homers and 49 RBIs while playing second base, right field and third base.
🔗 https://t.co/qm3YlwOGzs pic.twitter.com/dlo0R5ZjA6
Wyatt Hanoian is now a Tennessee Vol
This is the type of addition that gets fans fired up. Hanoian slashed .357 with a 1.051 OPS, along with six home runs, six steals, and 49 RBIs. He also walked more than he struck out while bringing defensive versatility. This is the biggest get of the year so far for Elander, who needed to add a replacement for Jay Abernathy after he committed to Oklahoma.
The bats, top to bottom, should be much more reliable than last year, something that wasn't always an issue, but still came back to haunt the Vols last year. In regionals, the bullpen did well, but the bats didn't show up, as Tennessee scored only 7 runs in 23 regional innings. Getting a player like Hanoian can help the Vols avoid another regional disaster and create a more consistent lineup.
Tennessee now boasts two major threats with Kersey and Hanoian, plus they have an improved rotation compared to last year, along with a stronger bullpen. If you’re a Vols fan, it’s hard not to be excited about what Elander has in store for next year.
I’d like to see Tennessee add one more big-time bat and one more bullpen arm before we’re in serious conversations about them being a true title threat. There’s reason for optimism, but also caution, baseball is a difficult sport, and just because the Vols have a championship-level roster on paper doesn’t mean it will all click. Just look at LSU this year.
However, this is a clear sign that Elander is taking his job very seriously and wants to do whatever he can to get back to the glory days of the Tony Vitello era, which is winning it all. The core is being built, and if it all comes together, don’t be surprised to see Tennessee in Omaha next June.
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