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College  | Recruiting  | 11/16/2020

Head of the Class: No. 4 Tennessee

John McAdams     
Photo: Brady House (Perfect Game)
Recruiting Rankings |  2021 High School Player Rankings | Recruiting Database


4. Tennessee



Full 2021-2022 Recruiting Class
 Head Coach: Tony Vitello | Recruiting Coordinator: Josh Elander
 
Top 5 Recruits:

Rk. Name POS. HT WT B-T High School Hometown ST
2 Brady House SS 6-3 210 R-R Winder-Barrow Winder GA
16 Chase Burns RHP 6-4 215 R-R Station Camp Gallatin TN
70 Christian Moore SS 6-1 200 R-R Suffield Academy Brooklyn NY
84 Ryan Spikes SS 5-9 185 R-R Parkview Lilburn GA
190 Grant Cherry RHP 6-3 205 R-R Vestavia Hills Vestavia Hills AL

*Rk. Denotes National Rank in PG HS Class of 2021


Something changed when Coach Tony Vitello came to Rocky Top in June of 2017, something changed for the better. Vitello brought a wealth of experience in the recruiting world of College Baseball, manning the Recruiting Coordinator spot for programs like Arkansas and TCU prior to coming to Volunteers. Vitello has earned the reputation of being one of the elite recruiters on the college recruiting landscape, having assembled a multitude of Top-15 signing classes at every stop of his coaching career. This year’s class could very well be the cornerstone class that Tennessee was envisioning when they hired Vitello. The class is loaded with top-flight talent and a plethora of high upside arms that will make immediate impacts should they get to campus.

Highlighting this special class is a pair of Perfect Game All American Classic participants in No. 2 overall in our latest 2021 grad rankings Brady House (2021, Winder, GA) and flame-thrower Chase Burns (Gallatin, TN). What House brings to the table is an extremely loud set of tools that would put his name in the conversation for many awards should he make it to campus. A physically impressive frame is just a small part in what truly makes House special, as he has smooth actions in the dirt and a big arm across the diamond. The Winder, GA native hit .418 in 2020 at PG events with immense power potential as evident by his 21 extra-base hits. The fall was where House cemented his name at the top of prospect list, excelling at the WWBA World Championship where he showed off an advanced approach to the tune of a .467 clip on amateur baseball's biggest stage. If House somehow makes it campus, he will almost certainly be an immediate contributor in the middle of the lineup for Coach Vitello and the Volunteers.

Coach Vitello and his staff did not need to wander too far in finding their second PG All American Classic participant. Chase Burns is a physically imposing righthander that has all the makings of a workhorse starter or high-octane, late inning reliever with a 99 mph fastball. Presently, Burns shows the necessary attributes to stick as a starter as he incorporates a well sequenced four-pitch mix and the ability to hold his velocity deep into his outings. The secondary offerings will continue to play up as he continues to refine his overall mechanics and reel in total command of the arsenal. The slider is the go-to out pitch with makings and spin traits of another plus-pitch down the road. Burns will be another monumental piece of this highly touted class should he make it to campus.

Not to be overshadowed is a trio of uber-athletic position players with high upside and a good chance to make it on campus. Christian Moore (2021, Brooklyn, NY) is the type of player that can impact a game in a multitude of ways. The strongly built prospect oozes athleticism in the dirt with plenty of lateral range and easy movements to stick on the left side of the infield. That coupled with above average arm strength that has been recorded up to 92 mph on the mound make Moore an intriguing two-way prospect should the staff want him to pitch as well. At the plate, the power potential is immense with consistent bat-to-ball skills to hit for both average and power. Dynamic could be one adjective to describe Ryan Spikes (2021, Lilburn,GA) and his 6.55 speed in the 60-yard dash. The ease in which Spikes is able to maneuver around the baseball field is something that needs to be seen. The live-bodied athlete has quickness rivaled by few in the middle of the field and more than enough arm to stay on the left side if needed. At the plate, he incorporates a low maintenance swing with a high contact rate and impact to all fields. The overall package is that of someone that could play just as well in the infield or by using his athleticism in centerfield. Rounding out the trio is in-state outfielder in Kavares Tears (2021, Lewisburg,TN). Tears aptly mans the outfield with lengthy strides, good instincts and the ability to make the tough catch when needed. At the plate, the physically strong Tears has a knack for the big hit and a developing hit tool that will continue to mature in his time on campus.

Pitching is always a key for any successful program in their quest to compete year in and year out. The bulk of this year’s class seems to be focused on pitching and plenty of it. The depth is led by a trio of projectable right-handers that possess similar current arsenals that will continue to tick up as they fully mature and get stronger. Grant Cherry (2021, Vestavia Hills,AL) brings a near limitless 6-foot-3 frame to go along with his 92 mph fastball and power slider mix. The upside is extremely vast, and the velocity will continue to rise as he gains strength. Kruise Newman (2021, Richmond, KY) and Drew Beam (2021, Murfreesboro,TN) bring similar current profiles to the table with low-90s fastballs and tons of running life to the pitch. They also add some energy to a staff from the moment they toe the rubber. Overall, they both feature athletic deliveries and good feel for a secondary offering that will continue to generate plenty of swings-and-misses at the next level.

Not to be lost in the mix of aforementioned righties is a group of pitchability left-handers that will surely be a huge part of any success the Volunteers may have. Two of them also show the reach Coach Vitello has brought to the table when it comes to recruiting with both Sam Bassett-Kennedy (Ann Arbor, MI) and Gavin Brasosky (Kalamazoo,MI) hailing from the cold-weather state of Michigan. Add in homegrown James McCracken (2021, Murfreesboro, TN) and you have a trio of strike throwing lefties that allow for matchup nightmares for opposing lineups. Bassett-Kennedy may have the most upside of the three, due to a 6-foot-7 frame and loads of deception in his delivery. The Ann Arbor, MI native has been up to 87 mph in PG events and showed much better command during his outing at the WWBA World Championship. Brasosky is a compactly built finesse pitcher with the ability to reach back for something extra if needed. He has been up to 88 mph with command of all four quadrants and tunneling ability to his full mix. The strike throwing lefty is someone that could eat up plenty of important innings throughout his career. Lastly is McCracken, a strongly built athlete with loads of physical projection remaining and someone who could add plenty of velocity once on campus. The Mufreesboro, TN native creates deception from a tough angle while using his well-replicated changeup to disrupt timing, to go with his 90 mph fastball.

If this year’s class is any indication of what the incoming classes will continue to look like, The University of Tennessee baseball program is in good hands with Coach Vitello and will be a force to reckon with in the coming years.
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