Josh Elander has a big couple of months ahead of him as it’s his first full offseason running the show in Knoxville, and he now has the opportunity to build the roster the way he wants it. Tennessee has already lost a few notable names to the portal, but for the most part, it has been depth pieces and younger players moving on.
Tracking every player Tennessee baseball loses and gains from the Transfer Portal
Tennessee also got some much-needed good news regarding its pitching staff. It was announced that Landon Mack and Cam Appenzeller will both return next season, giving the Vols two key weekend starters back. That’s a huge boost for Elander as he continues to shape next year’s roster.
Landon Mack will return to Tennessee for a second season, @GoVols247 has learned.
— Ben McKee (@benmckee14) June 2, 2026
With Cam Appenzeller also set to return, Tennessee is positioned to have one of the best rotations in the SEC next season. Will be as talented of a 1-2 punch as any.
🔗 https://t.co/SQZS3RAb5d pic.twitter.com/d7FJGDzuGd
SP's Landon Mack and Cam Appenzeller will be back for Tennessee
In today’s landscape, it’s huge that Tennessee has already locked down two starters for next season. Now the Vols just need to add one more weekend arm and the starting rotation should be set. Mack had an up-and-down season, but he clearly has really good stuff. He posted a 28% strikeout rate, averaging 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings, while recording 77 strikeouts to just 25 walks. The ERA wasn’t perfect, but Mack’s underlying numbers are very encouraging. He just needs to cut down on the walks next season.
Mack was a sub-4.00 ERA pitcher for most of the season until a couple of rough starts late in the year inflated his numbers. He capped off the season with a strong outing against Kentucky, going 6.0 innings, allowing just one earned run, and striking out six batters.
On the other hand, Cam Appenzeller was a pleasant surprise for Tennessee this year. The 6-foot-5 left-handed freshman had a standout first season in Knoxville, earning a spot on the 2026 SEC All-Freshman Team. Mostly coming out of the bullpen, he posted a 4.76 ERA, but his underlying numbers were impressive, finishing with a 1.14 WHIP, 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings, and just 2.4 walks per nine. Appenzeller showed plenty of flashes this season and proved that he can be a reliable piece for the Vols moving forward.
Appenzeller showed what he’s capable of in several big moments this season. He tossed 6.0 scoreless innings against Vanderbilt with four strikeouts, and he followed that up by throwing 2.2 scoreless innings against Georgia. There’s a lot to like about his game, and he proved he could be a building block in the rotation moving forward. It will be a step forward moving up to a starter, but he can make the jump, no doubt.
Above all, Elander can now focus on bringing in a few more bats and adding a couple of reliable bullpen arms to round out the roster. The road to Omaha begins now.
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