BaseVOLS Thread.

Having seen nearly every Southeastern Conference tournament game in Hoover, Ala., again this year and seeing Tennessee play several times this spring, a couple areas of need must be addressed if the Volunteers are going to take that next step in 2015. One common theme among the top teams still alive down here is that they have multiple pitchers on staff that are going to play professional baseball and typically at least two that project to go in the first five rounds of the MLB Draft. Have not seen offensive depth being a factor here, but I do think Tennessee has a leg up on a majority of the league in that department. Again, it's the rotation and bullpen talent and depth that's the difference. Replacing Nick Williams won't be the same as replacing an R.A. Dickey but he still gave coach Dave Serrano countless productive outings and could work deep into ballgames. Catcher, a corner infield spot and a corner outfield/designate hitter spot could all see newcomers in a year (11 signees last November). A majority of my projection will have names that are familiar to Tennessee baseball followers, which is one of the key reasons why baseball people talk about the future of the Big Orange in such a positive light. A third of the hitters will be three-year starters with one being a four-year starter. Here's a look at my projected 2015 Tennessee starting lineup:

1.*Will Maddox*5
2.*Lane Thomas*8
3.*Christin Stewart*7
4.*Nick Senzel*4
5.*Vincent Jackson*9
6.*Nathaniel Maggio*3
7.*Benito Santiago Jr.*2
8.*A.J. Simcox*6
9.*Jordan Rodgers*5

Weekend rotation:*Hunter Martin,*Steven Kane,*Andy Cox
Setup men:*Andrew Lee,*Josh Peterson
Closer:*Kyle Serrano
 
Oh let's ride.

"The Tennessee baseball team got two big commitments Thursday, a source close to those recruitments confirmed to govols247.
The Vols added highly touted 2014 pitcher Zach Warren from St. Augustine Prep School in New Jersey and Chris Hall, the leadoff hitter for this year's NAIA national champions at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn.
Warren, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound southpaw, initially signed with Tulane but opted out after a coaching change and chose the Vols over Vanderbilt, Florida State, North Carolina, TCU and Texas A&M.
Hall batted leadoff for Cumberland this season and had a .400-plus average until the final week of the season.
Both players will be eligible to play this season.


Warren was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 23rd round, and he only fell that far because of signability concerns. He's a HUGE prospect.
And Tennessee's staff loves Hall — a tough kid who can play all three OF positions and gets on base a ton.
Hall got into the MBA program at Tennessee and will be just a junior this season. But he'll be eligible immediately."
 
Also for what it is worth, Kyle Serrano has been starting and stretching out games in the summer leagues.

No way he doesn't start next season IMO
 
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