Tennessee baseball commits opt to play at Tennessee over MLB

The MLB Draft occurred on July 15 during All-Star Week festivities in Fort Worth, Texas. Tennessee baseball had several players and commits drafted and will begin their professional careers. 

However, a couple of players have opted to play for Tennessee instead of signing with an MLB team, including two players who could immediately impact Rocky Top when they arrive on campus in the fall. 

The Detroit Tigers drafted right-handed pitcher Anson Seibert in the 16th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Coming into the summer, he had the potential to be a first-round pick, but he struggled throughout showcases, dropping his stock ahead of the draft. 

Seibert's fastball tops out at 97 mph but will stay in the mid-90s throughout most of his freshman season. He also brings a slider and changeup, but his fastball is his best pitch, with the slider being a distant second. 

Despite the drop in his draft stock, he still has the potential to be an immediate impact player for the Vols in 2025. The 6-foot-8 pitcher is the highest-rated player in Tennessee's 2024 recruiting class and the No. 35 overall player according to Perfect Game. 

Manny Marin has also announced he is joining Tennessee despite receiving offers to play professionally. He's considered one of the better defensive shortstops in the 2024 class, but he also has a strong bat. 

The ball jumped off his bat in his senior season, seeing 97 and 99 mph exit velocity at the plate. Defense alone, he could be an impact player for the Vols in 2025. 

Tennessee recruited nine top-100 players in the 2024 class. They are bringing seven of the nine to Rocky Top in the fall. That's a huge win for the coaching staff as they continue to build sustained dominance on Rocky Top. 

The Vols have reloaded their roster through the transfer portal and traditional recruiting and will try to run it again next summer in Omaha.