Redshirt sophomore catcher Charlie Taylor went 4-for-5, recording two home runs, one triple, five RBIs and four runs against Alabama A&M in the series finale Wednesday.
His two home runs are Taylor’s first while at Tennessee.
In 2022, Taylor recorded a .056 batting average, two hits, one double, zero triples, zero home runs, three RBIs, six runs, eight walks, five hit by pitches and 15 strikeouts in 36 at-bats.
Following Tennessee’s victory against Alabama A&M, Taylor met with media and discussed his two-home run performance. Taylor’s media availability can be watched below.
2023 Tennessee baseball season preview: Charlie Taylor
Opening day for Tennessee baseball is slated for Feb. 17.
The Vols will play in the 2023 MLB Desert Invitational in Arizona Feb. 17-19. The MLB Desert Invitational field will consist of Tennessee, Arizona, Fresno State, Grand Canyon, Michigan State and San Diego.
The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s sixth under head coach Tony Vitello. Vitello has compiled a 191–77 (71–49 SEC) record as the Vols’ head coach.
Tennessee won the Southeastern Conference East division for the second consecutive season, the league regular-season and tournament championships in 2022.
The Vols were a No. 1 overall national seed in the NCAA Tournament, winning the Knoxville regional and advancing to the Knoxville super regional.
Tennessee was ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll for 10 consecutive weeks (March 28-May 30) during the 2022 season.
Ahead of the 2023 season, Vols Wire previews the upcoming campaign. Below are statistics for catcher Charlie Taylor entering the 2023 season.
Friday’s game started play in the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional. Alabama State, Campbell and Georgia Tech make up the field in the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional.
Redshirt freshman catcher Charlie Taylor replaced graduate senior Evan Russell for Tennessee against Alabama State.
Taylor recorded one RBI in the contest.
Tennessee’s pitchers totaled 121 pitches with Taylor at catcher against Alabama State: Blade Tidwell (93), Ben Joyce (5) and Mark McLaughlin (23).
Friday’s game started play in the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional. Alabama State, Campbell and Georgia Tech make up the field in the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional.
Following the Vols’ win against Alabama State, Taylor met with media and discussed the reaction he received from Tennessee fans during the contest.
“That was pretty awesome,” Taylor said. “I was honestly a little bit nervous, but the way Blade (Tidwell) threw the ball and the way Vol nation kind of rallied around me, and I probably won’t ever forget that, so that was a pretty cool moment for me.”
Redshirt freshman Charlie Taylor replaced graduate senior Evan Russell for Tennessee against Alabama State. Taylor recorded one RBI in the contest.
Following the Vols’ win, Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello discussed Russell and Taylor.
“We will give it some time to figure out what’s going on because I have to get with Dr. (Chris) Klenck, but obviously Evan Russell was not here,” Vitello said. “He was sick this morning. I got a message from him. I’m going to always defer to those folks. It opened up an opportunity for Charlie and also our guys to kind of rally around one another because clearly that’s a big piece there.
“I think for me, the one thing I’ll say about it, if you come to practice, I mean I’m looking at these names, I think Charlie has everyone on our roster beat as far as how he shows up and plays ball. It’s just kind of the same deal, it’s why he’s a fan favorite in the locker room. I don’t think it affects him much, but what our fans do, just in certain situations, and in particular being behind our guy that’s a freshman on the field, does things to my soul that I wish I could explain to you all, but I can’t.”
Evan Russell and Tennessee practice at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on June 2, 2022 ahead of the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols WireCharlie Taylor and Tennessee defeat Alabama State in the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on June 3, 2022. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
Vitello also discussed if Russell will play against Campbell on Saturday.
“I don’t know, I would say if he wasn’t able to be here today, then I wouldn’t think quick turnaround,” Vitello said. “I mean even handling that with our guys in the fall here, if you’re out one day, you have to come to me first before we’ll see if we’re going to push the envelope.
“Hopefully, you guys think we’re conservative with our guys as it relates to throwing or playing, I mean health first and then we’ll push the envelope second. You have a guy like Jared Dickey in my ear all game long, and all day long, ‘The beast has been in the cage too long.’ He wants to play. Well, you have to kind of manage situations like that.”
