2023 coaches preseason All-SEC baseball team announced

The 2023 coaches preseason All-SEC baseball team has been announced, including four Vols.

The 2023 SEC baseball coaches preseason All-SEC team was announced Thursday ahead of opening day on Feb. 17.

2023 All-SEC student-athletes are listed below.

First team

C: BT Riopelle, Florida

1B: Jack Moss, Texas A&M

2B: Peyton Stovall, Arkansas

3B: Luke Mann, Missouri

SS: Jacob Gonzalez, Ole Miss

OF: Dylan Crews, LSU

OF: Enrique Bradfield Jr., Vanderbilt

OF: Wyatt Langford, Florida

DH/UTL: Tommy White, LSU

SP: Chase Dollander, Tennessee

SP: Chase Burns, Tennessee

RP: Brady Tygart, Arkansas

Second team

C: Luke Hancock, Mississippi State

1B: Tre’ Morgan, LSU

2B: Ryan Targac, Texas A&M

3B: Trevor Werner, Texas A&M

SS: Maui Ahuna, Tennessee

OF: Connor Tate, Georgia

OF: Brett Minnich, Texas A&M

OF: Colton Ledbetter, Mississippi State

DH/UTL: Austin Bost, Texas A&M

SP: Carter Holton, Vanderbilt*

SP: Hurston Waldrep, Florida*

SP: Paul Skenes, LSU*

RP: Camden Sewell, Tennessee

*Ties

2023 SEC baseball preseason coaches poll announced

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2023 Tennessee baseball season preview: Maui Ahuna

2023 Tennessee baseball season preview: Maui Ahuna

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 CanyonMichigan State and San Diego.

Tennessee’s 2023 baseball schedule

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 infielder Maui Ahuna entering the 2023 season. Ahuna transferred to Tennessee from Kansas following the 2022 season.

MLB mock draft ahead of 2023 college baseball season

MLB mock draft ahead of the 2023 college baseball season: Two Vols are projected in the first round

Opening day in college baseball is slated for Feb. 17.

Tennessee 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, Michigan State and San Diego.

2023 D1 Baseball preseason poll

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 and appeared in the 2021 College World Series.

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 in 2022.

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 college baseball season, MLB.com released a first-round mock draft. The mock draft includes two Tennessee student-athletes and projections are listed below.

PHOTOS: Maui Ahuna debuts at Tennessee

PHOTOS: Maui Ahuna debuts at Tennessee

Tennessee hosted Wake Forest Sunday in a fall exhibition game at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Vols and Demon Deacons played 18 innings. After 18 innings, Tennessee led 13-9.

Shortstop Maui Ahuna committed to Tennessee June 10.

He transferred from Kansas to the Vols.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Ahuna played at Kansas from 2021-22. He appeared in 103 games for the Jayhawks, recording a .357 batting average, nine home runs, 73 RBIs, 75 runs, 138 hits, 206 total bases, 56 walks and 21 stolen bases.

Ahuna is from Hilo High School in Hilo, Hawaii.

Ahuna made his debut with the Vols Sunday against Wake Forest.

Below are photos of Ahuna in Tennessee’s fall exhibition game against the Demon Deacons at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Top 20 college prospects for 2023 MLB draft

A look at the top 20 college baseball prospects for the 2023 MLB draft.

The 2023 Major League Baseball draft will take place July 9-11 during all-star festivities in Seattle, Washington.

Jim Callis of MLB.com released his top 20 college prospects for the 2023 MLB draft.

Callis included two Tennessee players as his top 20 college prospects and others to watch ahead of the 2023 MLB draft.

“Just as with the 2022 college crop, hitters dominate next year’s college draft class,” Callis said. “Position players claim six of the top seven spots and 12 of the first 15 on our rankings of the 20 best collegians available in 2023.

“The Southeastern Conference has won four of the last five College World Series and dominates this list as well with nine players, including the top four prospects.”

Below are Callis’ top 20 prospects and others to watch ahead of the 2023 MLB draft.

Tony Vitello discusses Maui Ahuna arriving at Tennessee

Tony Vitello discusses Maui Ahuna arriving at Tennessee.

Shortstop Maui Ahuna committed to Tennessee June 10.

He transferred from Kansas to the Vols.

Ahuna is from Hilo High School in Hilo, Hawaii.

Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello met with media Friday and discussed Ahuna joining the Vols’ program.

“It’s been good because I think he likes to be challenged,” Vitello said. “You know what you’re getting skill wise, but you don’t know what you’re getting as far as the makeup of the kid entirely, and that goes for other guys too, that you recruit even when they’re in high school and they transition straight to our place. Because recruiting happens so fast now and so early, you don’t really get the time to do that.

“It’s encouraging that he likes to be challenged from the coaches, and then also I think he wants to lead in his own way too. He’s made comments, he’s done certain things. I think the biggest thing for now is just getting him acclimated for what we think our style needs to be and what we think wins in our league, and making sure he’s not only on board with that, but he’s kind of being the epitome of it because that’s what Cortland (Lawson) was for us last year, and then the guys in front of him too. He’s the first one we’ve had here that’s kind of a a big name prospect or a Team USA guy, but the guys before him have done pretty dang well, and that’s becoming a fun spot to talk about on our campus as he gets to be the shortstop at Tennessee. That’s the way it should be.”

Below are Ahuna’s career statistics during his time at Kansas from 2021-22.

Maui Ahuna commits to Tennessee

Kansas shortstop Maui Ahuna commits to Tennessee.

Sophomore shortstop Maui Ahuna has committed Tennessee.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Ahuna played at Kansas from 2021-22.

He appeared in 103 games for the Jayhawks, recording a .357 batting average, nine home runs, 73 RBIs, 75 runs, 138 hits, 206 total bases, 56 walks and 21 stolen bases.

Ahuna is from Hilo High School in Hilo, Hawaii.

Ahuna announced his commitment Friday ahead of Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament Super Regional against Notre Dame.

Notre Dame advanced to the Knoxville Super Regional after winning the Statesboro Regional. The Fighting Irish defeated Georgia Southern and Texas Tech twice.

Tennessee enters Super Regional play following winning three games in the Knoxville Regional. The Vols defeated Alabama State, Campbell and Georgia Tech.

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