Opening Day for the Tennessee Vols baseball team is two weeks away, with Tony Vitello and Co. ready to do whatever is needed to try and silence the haters. Last season, with people still celebrating, the Vols won the College Baseball World Series for the first time ever, shocking everyone.
Leading up to Game 1, though, this program has added a monster addition seemingly out of nowhere. Late on Friday night, Go Vols 247's Ben McKee dropped the breaking news that former North Carolina star Alberto Osuna will be joining the program.
Wait, what in the world? That's right, Osuna was previously set to close out his college career in Florida, but with the new JUCO rules, he now has one last season of eligibility left. Per McKee, Osuna is arriving in Knoxville on Saturday.
BREAKING: Former North Carolina slugger Alberto Osuna is joining the Tennessee baseball program two weeks out from opening day.
— Ben McKee (@benmckee14) February 1, 2025
Osuna was at the University of Tampa during the fall. He arrives in Knoxville tomorrow.https://t.co/R5a3rKNlSK
Former North Carolina 1B Alberto Osuna is joining the Tennessee baseball team
This indeed is exciting news for Vitello, as Osuna was known for mashing the ball with the Tar Heels over the past three seasons. During that time, he posted 45 homers, which ranks fifth all-time in Chapel Hill. Adding that kind of power to the middle of the lineup will be huge for Tennessee.
Last season, the veteran DH/1B hit .281 with 14 dingers, while adding 56 RBI. Yeah, pretty dang impressive if you ask us. Originally, Osuna was planning to play for D-II University of Tampa this campaign, but again, thanks to the new JUCO rules, he's taking advantage of things and making his way to UT.
Ironically enough, Osuna is familiar with Tennessee, as he and the Tar Heels lost to the Vols in the College World Series last season. Fast forward to present time and he's now set to join a program that's looking to repeat as the champs. Vols baseball fans are blown away by this latest news and understandably so.