It’s baseball time in Tennessee!
The University of Tennessee baseball team will open up its season Friday against Xavier at 4 p.m. at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Volunteers are looking to improve on a 26-29 (11-19 in SEC) record last season. Head coach Todd Raleigh is entering his third season with the team and brings a career record of 310-267. Raleigh believes his team is ready for Friday based on what he’s seen so far in practice, despite bad weather conditions.
“We’re three days away, and practice has been going great,” Raleigh said. “Obviously the weather hasn’t been super, but we were able to go outside last Friday, Saturday, Sunday and scrimmage. I don’t feel like we’re behind, but I certainly don’t want any more of this weather.
“I feel like we’re in really good shape for Friday. We’re healthy and ready to go.”
The Vols are returning 21 players, including 18 lettermen and six previously drafted players. Two major pieces to the Vols success will be juniors Cody Hawn and Blake Forsythe. All-American first baseman Cody Hawn led the team in numerous categories including batting average (.364), hits, HRs (22), RBIs (81) and slugging percentage (.773) last year.
“When you’re an All-American, you’ve got to play like an All-American,” Raleigh said. “It doesn’t do any good to be a preseason All-American. And certainly Cody is poised to do that. Cody is as good of a hitter as anybody in the country. With him and Blake Forsythe in the middle, it certainly brings an element to a team, and they have to stop that.”
Hawn was very optimistic about the upcoming season when he spoke to media on Tuesday.
“There’s no doubt in the world that we have the talent, and I think this is one of the best groups we’ve had here at UT,” Hawn said. “It’s all about putting it together. We have a bunch of good arms, and we can run. This is one of the faster teams we’ve had. We’re also going to hit the long ball a little bit too, which everybody likes. It’s all about blending and making it happen. Once we get going, I think we’re going to be fine.”
Catcher Blake Forsythe was a First Team All-SEC selection last season and hit .347 with 46 RBIs. Forsythe shared Hawn’s optimism on the 2010 campaign at media day.
“We’ve had talent before; we just didn’t know how to bring it all together,” Forsythe said. “I think this is the year that we’re going to be put back on the map. We have guys that are going to be the best at their position in the league.
“I really think this is going to be the year for us to step back out there and prove to everybody that we belong among the top 20 teams in the nation, and I think we’re going to do that.”
Junior left-handed pitcher Bryan Morgado will get the Opening Day start for the Vols against Xavier. Morgado led the Vols in wins (4) and strikeouts (75) in 2009. Raleigh showed full support of Morgado as the leader of the pitching staff during media day.
“Bryan is going to be our Friday night starter,” Raleigh said. “He has one of the best arms in the country. He hasn’t probably pitched up to what he’s capable of the last couple of years, but he’s turned a corner.”
Raleigh admitted Morgado’s technique has improved since arriving on campus.
“He’s much more of a pitcher now and not such a thrower,” Raleigh said. “Before, he wanted to throw a ball 90 miles per hour, but you have to hit your spots. He’s really matured. I wasn’t here when Bryan got here, but I think he was 17, and that’s young for a college freshman. I think he’s matured a lot, and he’s certainly as good as anybody in the country. It’s good to have him on Friday night.”
The Volunteers will look to take some of the momentum from their strong finish of a disappointing 2009 season into 2010. The Vols will open up a three-game series at home against Xavier, then travel to Oregon State to face the Beavers before traveling back to Knoxville. Game time is at 4 p.m. at the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
