Tennessee baseball is on a hot streak in the transfer portal. We’re still in the middle of July, but Tony Vitello is recruiting like there’s no tomorrow. Tennessee has added multiple new arms to the pitching staff and a couple of elite bats for next year’s lineup.
The BaseVols are reloading for the 2025 season, looking to repeat as champions with their returning players and 2024 portal class. Junior College pitcher Brandon Arvidson is the newest player to commit to Tennessee through the transfer portal.
The JUCO lefty initially signed his letter of intent with Texas out of San Jacinto Community College. Since David Pierce’s firing and Jim Schlossnagle’s hiring, Arvidson has changed his heart and was released from his NLI from Texas.
Arvidson announced his decision on X with a simple message for Vol Nation. “Excited to announce my commitment to The University of Tennessee,” Arvidson said on X.
Excited to announce my commitment to The University of Tennessee🍊🍊#GBO pic.twitter.com/slD9tkjJpJ
— Brandon Arvidson (@ArvidsonBrandon) July 14, 2024
The Dripping Springs, Texas native was elite on the mound last season. He pitched 60.0 innings and recorded 108 strikeouts. He finished the year with a 3.84 ERA, and opponents finished with a .173 batting average against the southpaw pitcher.
Arvidson also led college baseball in strikeouts per nine innings, recording 15.93. This instantly makes him one of, if not the best, strikeout pitchers in the transfer portal.
Tennessee has also signed pitchers Liam Doyle out of Ole Miss and Kennesaw State pitcher Tanner Franklin since the end of the season.
Doyle also has a high strikeout rate with 84 strikeouts last season, which could create an excellent one-two punch with Arvidson if both translate to playing at Tennessee.
Vitello and the Vols are rolling in the transfer portal after winning the program’s first national championship earlier this summer. Tennessee has added six players through the transfer portal, including three pitchers.