Three Vols made the Baseball America list of the top 50 draft selections for the 2007 Major League Baseball draft.
Center fielder Julio Borbon ranked highest as he was projected to be drafted seventh overall. Left-handed pitcher James Adkins is penciled in at 11th, and hard-hitting catcher JP Arencibia was projected at 20th.
Tennessee is the only school with three players on the list.
“It’s an honor to be considered one of the better players in the country,” Arencibia said.
The high expectations come after a year in which the Vols failed to build on a trip to the College World Series.
“I’ve gone through a lot of high expectations,” Borbon said.
Scouts have been salivating over the speedy contact hitter since moving back to center field from left following his freshman campaign.
“It doesn’t make me nervous,” Arencibia said. “It makes me want to work harder.”
They’re taking it one step at a time. After all, there is still a season to play.
“I’m looking more for team goals,” Borbon said. “I want to go to Omaha. There’s no doubt in my mind we have the talent.”
“I’m very excited,” Adkins said. “I wish we could get going next week. We all jelled together. We have a goal—that’s Omaha.”
The players are more focused on this season than making the pros and especially the College World Series.
Adkins said, what happens, happens. “I can’t control the draft.”
“All that stuff is propaganda,” Arencibia said. “It doesn’t mean anything. All that matters is what happens on the field.”
They have been hard at work, however, on improving their stock. Adkins worked to improve his individual game by changing speeds and working to develop more control.
“This fall, all I threw were fastballs and change-ups. I got my breaking balls to where I want them,” he said. He has four pitches now in his arsenal.
Borbon and Arencibia played last summer for Team USA which won the gold medal over Chinese Taipei. Using wood bats, they proved they could hit some of the best pitching in the world. Arencibia hit a team high of nine home runs and batted .306 while Borbon batted .364.
The three have been essential parts of the Diamond Vols with Borbon combining to hit .358 the last two years and with 31 stolen bases. Arencibia batted .335 with 25 homers and 123 RBIs heading into his third season. Adkins, the ace of the team, owns an 18-11 record and a 3.86 ERA.
They all have their heroes — the players they most admire. Borbon has a picture of Jose Reyes, the all-star Mets shortstop, taped inside his locker.
Arencibia looks up to Ivan Rodriguez, the Detroit Tigers catcher, who recently played in the World Series.
“I like Randy Johnson a lot,” Adkins said. Both are tall lefties.
Now a lifelong dream to play in the major league could become a reality in the near future.
The game of baseball is the great passion for these guys.
“Every time I step on the field, I enjoy it,” Borbon said. “As long as I’m playing baseball, having a ball and glove, I’m enjoying every second of it.”
They all know what Baseball America released is not set in stone, and it’s still just a prediction.
