Reese Chapman is quick to deflect crediting himself.
Tennessee baseball’s lone four-year senior has seen the transformation of Lindsey Nelson Stadium firsthand from his post in right field. During that time, he’s seen the padding of the outfield walls add new decals for College World Series appearances, SEC titles, NCAA Regional appearances and All-Americans. He’s also seen national-championship placards around various parts of the multi-million dollar renovation project that has become one of college baseball’s top destinations.
All of that has been built in the time Chapman has put the Tennessee jersey on. And he left it all on the field in his final SEC opportunity against Texas with a two home run game with six RBIs on Mother’s Day. As he walked through the Senior Day festivities, one thing flooded his thoughts.
“Appreciation,” Chapman said. “This program has given me everything, and this university, and I’ve given everything for this program, and for this university. To come from my freshman year, when we still had portable bleachers down the left field line, to see what it looks like now. I can honestly stand up here and be the only one to say in playing all those environments of what Lindsay Nelson has looked like. And it’s truly remarkable on what the fans bring, their energy that they bring for this program and just their support means everything to me. I would just say gratitude and appreciation when I was walking through, and when I shook (hands) and gave coach (Josh) Elander a hug, and then when I looked towards the fans.”
Chapman has been an everyday stalwart for the last two years in right field. He’s started 115 games in 115 appearances, and was one of the first to the plate to bat for Elander when the head coaching spot opened up.
The pair’s relationship goes far back, and it’s resulted in Elander slipping up in listing Chapman as his favorite. While Sunday isn’t the complete end to a chapter — Tennessee hosts Belmont on May 12 in the final home game of the regular season — it did serve as one final chance to relay the contributions Chapman gave the program.
“He’s an easy guy to root for and a true Volunteer,” Elander said. “It means a lot to me and a lot of people I know. A special player, just elite makeup, and then it just gets better.”
The feelings reciprocate.
“That’s my guy,” Chapman said. “I’ll always ride with E. I’ve built a relationship ever since I was 14, 15 years old, with him. So, I feel like family to him, and he’s family to me, so I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Chapman’s senior season is on pace to be the best of his career. While embracing different roles in the lineup card, he’s managed to post a .307 batting average, which is the third-best on the team. His two blasts on Sunday put him at the double-digit mark for longballs, while putting together a .978 fielding percentage for the No. 1 defense in the SEC.
The most admirable feat for Chapman, however, is a checked box for holiday homers. On June 16, 2024 — Father’s Day — Chapman blasted a fifth-inning home run against North Carolina in the College World Series to help the Vols win 6-1. On Sunday — Mother’s Day — Chapman blasted a pair of bombs with his mother in attendance.
Both parents now have a home-run ball from Chapman.
“It was special,” Chapman said. “With the fans that have always supported me since I used to foot on campus. But more than that, I think it was really cool for me to hit two homers on Mother’s Day. My mom was in the stands, and I had a bunch of family here supporting me and I wouldn’t want it any other way, other than to end with a win.”
Now, as Tennessee eyes the postseason, he’ll have just one more chance — barring an NCAA Regional host site — to show the younger guys below him the standard that the program has become. He admits to taking a backseat role in that maturation process for the youth.
“Honestly, I don’t know if I ever give myself credit,” Chapman said. “I like to help them out and be a helping hand to anybody. But I’ll be proud when they go on and the type of man that they become. But I honestly think that comes more from the top than me with the skipper and the coaches up there. So honestly, I probably don’t give myself enough credit.”
Still, the program he’s given four years to is a program he is indebted to forever.
“I want to be a Vol for life,” Chapman said. “That sign, it’s not just a sign to be there, but it’s, ‘I’ll give my all for Tennessee.’ And I take that to heart — slapping that sign every day before I walk out into the into the dugout. So, I mean, that’s what it means to me to be a Vol. And I’m just trying to help these guys learn that that’s the only Vol way is to give it your all.”
