Tag: Sean Hunley

2021 MLB draft: Vols’ pitcher Sean Hunley selected by Tampa Bay

Tennessee pitcher Sean Hunley drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays.

University of Tennessee pitcher Sean Hunley has been drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays.

A relief pitcher for the Volunteers, Hunley was selected in the 19th round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft Tuesday in Denver, Colorado. He was selected No. 581 overall.

Hunley, a native of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee and a graduate of Mt. Juliet High School, recorded nine saves for the Vols as a senior in 2021.

He ranks top-10 in multiple statistical categories in UT program history.

His nine saves in 2021 were tied for fifth most in a single season. Hunley made 76 career appearances, fourth most in Tennessee baseball history.

He is tied for third in career saves with 13 with a career ERA of 2.71 (seventh best in the history of the program).

In 2021, Hunley recorded 77 strikeouts in 72.1 innings pitched and received second-team All-America honors from Baseball America.

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Two Vols receive All-America honors

Two Vols earn All-America honors.

A pair of Tennessee players were named to the Baseball America All-America Team Thursday.

Senior relief pitcher Sean Hunley and junior infielder Jake Rucker were recognized by the publication.

Hunley, a graduate of Mt. Juliet High School, earned second-team honors, while Rucker was a third-team selection at third base.

Baseball America is the second outlet to recognize Rucker as an All-America standout. He was also a third-team selection on the Collegiate Baseball News All-America Team.

Hunley was selected for a national honor for the first time since he was named to the Collegiate Baseball News Freshman All-America team in 2018.

He is 7-4 and has recorded a career-high nine saves this season for the Vols (50-16), who open play in the College World Series Sunday.

First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. EDT at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

Rucker, a Greenbrier, Tennessee native, was a first-team All-SEC standout.

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Sean Hunley named SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week

Tennessee pitcher Sean Hunley was honored by SEC after picking up two wins and a save against LSU.

University of Tennessee baseball player Sean Hunley was honored by the Southeastern Conference when the league released its weekly honors.

He was named SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week, sharing the honor with Vanderbilt’s Jack Leiter.

Leiter is the son of former major league pitcher Al Leiter. Leiter pitched a no-hitter against South Carolina this season and threw seven hitless innings against Missouri Friday night.

Hunley, a senior right-handed reliever for the Volunteers, posted a save and two wins on the mound as No. 9  Tennessee swept No. 14 LSU at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Over the weekend, Hunley picked up his second save of the 2021 campaign when the Vols outlasted the Tigers, 3-1, on Friday.

He claimed victories in the other two contests during the series as Tennessee (21-4, 5-1 SEC) posted its first sweep over LSU (16-8, 1-5 SEC) since 2008.

Hunley, who hails from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, is 4-0 this season.

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