Three more Tennessee baseball players enter transfer portal

Three more Tennessee baseball players enter the transfer portal just before it closes. The portal window closes on July 2, meaning any player who is interested in transferring must submit their name before that date. 

The Vols won the men's College World Series exactly one week before these players entered the portal. Tennessee beat Texas A&M 6-5 in game three to win the program's first national championship. 

First baseman and outfielder Robin Villeneuve, pitcher Derek Schaefer, and infielder Bradke Lohry all entered the portal on Monday. 

They join pitchers Matthew Dallas, Wyatt Evans, Daniel Parris, and third baseman Zane Denton in entering the transfer portal from Tennessee's baseball program. This makes seven players to enter the portal after Tennessee's season. 

Each of these players has a similar story. They were given opportunities early in the season and performed well, but they were ultimately passed up by younger players. Villeneuve hit .288 with five home runs and 22 RBIs this past season but couldn't cement a consistent spot in the lineup. 

Lohry experienced the same story. Started the season at shortstop but was replaced by freshman Dean Curley, sending Lohry to the bench for a majority of the season. 

Schaefer is the only freshman on this list. He is considered one of the better young pitchers on Tennessee's staff, but freshman Dylan Loy and sophomore JJ Garcia earned more permanent roles out of the bullpen. 

While Schaefer was considered one of the better young pitchers coming into the season, he didn't fare well on the mound. He pitched 8.2 innings over ten appearances and compiled a 9.35 ERA. 

Each player struggled when SEC play rolled around, ultimately losing their spot in the lineup, but they still have a lot of promise at their position, whether they choose to stay in Knoxville or transfer somewhere else.