Following a tough series loss at LSU, Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello offered a straightforward plan for his pitching staff as the regular season nears its climax: “It’s time to ride our best guys.”
This approach has defined Vitello’s tenure with the Vols. While he typically preserves his pitchers early in the season, May brings high-stakes games where he leans heavily on his top arms. The question for Tennessee’s 2025 squad, however, is clear: Who are those go-to pitchers?
Vitello’s Strategy: Ride the Best
Tennessee’s starting rotation offers some clarity. Liam Doyle and Marcus Phillips have emerged as the staff’s anchors, boasting a combined 3.59 ERA across 100.1 innings in SEC play. Even Tegan Kuhns, who transitioned to relief after starting in Tennessee’s first six conference series, has contributed to the starters’ solid output.
The bullpen, however, remains a concern. At LSU, Tennessee’s relievers surrendered 13 earned runs in just 10.1 innings. Over the course of SEC play, the bullpen’s 6.08 ERA across 80 innings starkly contrasts with the starters’ performance. With the latter recording 61 more outs while allowing 14 fewer earned runs.
Nate Snead, a key figure in Tennessee’s 2024 national championship run, is undeniably one of Vitello’s “best guys.” Yet, his 4.70 ERA in 23 SEC innings suggests he’s been reliable but not dominant. In the series opener at LSU, Snead was undone by two ninth-inning errors from Dean Curley, resulting in six unearned runs and a 6-3 loss that swung the series.
Strength in the Starting Rotation
Behind Snead, left-hander Dylan Loy (4.05 ERA in 13.1 innings) and right-hander Tanner Franklin (5.63 ERA in 16 innings) have shown promise. Both performed well at LSU, and Franklin, in particular, has stabilized after some early struggles in conference play. Still, consistency remains elusive for the bullpen.
“We have a decent understanding of what guys can and can’t do,” Vitello said. “Everyone just needs to do their job. We know what a good weekend looks like, and those will be the guys we go with.”
Bullpen Struggles Raise Concerns
AJ Russell, a junior right-hander, remains a wildcard. Limited to two SEC appearances, Russell’s fastball velocity and movement have dipped compared to last season, tempering expectations that he’d be a game-changer for the staff. While he can still contribute, he’s yet to resemble the projected MLB Draft top-20 pick.
Freshmen Tegan Kuhns and Brayden Krenzel have flashed potential but face their own challenges. Kuhns has faded recently, while Krenzel, despite a strong SEC showing outside of one rough outing against Texas A&M, has missed the last two weekends due to illness. His return could provide a lift.
As Tennessee Volunteers heads into the final stretch of the regular season, the Vols need their top pitchers to deliver consistently—and for a few others to step up—to solidify the bullpen and fuel a deep postseason run.