Talented Newcomers and Returning Talent Energize 2025 UT Martin Squad
2/13/2025 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
Following the departure of one of the most accomplished groups in University of Tennessee at Martin baseball program history, the Skyhawks have reloaded and have their eyes set on more history in 2025.
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UT Martin head coach Ryan Jenkins enters his eighth season with 20 newcomers and 14 returners that will look to build off the past two postseason appearances for the Orange and Blue.
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"Everyone is really excited to get going, it's always a fun time of year for college baseball," Jenkins said. "I think this year is a little bit different. Everything we've been doing up to this point has been really good as far as the energy levels and enthusiasm so the guys are firing on all cylinders. It's nice to see us play the way we are right now this time of year."
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After 25 players exited from last season, the Skyhawks have sought all around the college baseball ranks to build up not just their talent level but their chemistry as well.
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"We had a lot of turnover," Jenkins said. "Most of the guys we've brought in are junior college transfers so they have college baseball experience. We have some older guys and mature guys so for me, I don't feel like we lack a lot of experience. As far as considerable college reps and being in meaningful games at a high level, we're experienced in that regard. It's always a toss-up on how the chemistry is going to be with that many new guys. We have far more returners than new guys but luckily the team chemistry seems to be really good and they've gelled together. The older guys have put their arms around the younger guys and have shown them how we do things."
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The Skyhawks will be busy to begin the year, playing 16 games in 17 days to start the season with two four-game sets and one tournament at MTSU. In total, UT Martin will play 28 games against teams that finished with at least a .500 record last spring.
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"One of the things about the schedule is we have a lot of baseball early," Jenkins said. "That was intentionally done so we could pile in as many games as we could so we could get reps. Any opportunity we can get on the baseball field is going to be huge for us and we tried to make sure we had good competition and had teams that were going to test us."
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The outfield for the Skyhawks will see a mixture of talent from last season with junior college transfers and young freshmen. Senior Jalen Fithian saw 28 of his 50 games in the outfield and batted .292 with 20 RBI while redshirt sophomore Garner Anderson started six games in left field with 12 RBI in just 46 at-bats. Sophomore Cullen Box also will see playing time following seven games as a true freshman with one start. In terms of newcomers, Arderrius Townsend (2024 NAIA first team All-American at Blue Mountain College), Brody Capps (.388 average at Wallace CC-Dothan), Jordan Hudson (2024 GHSA state champion at Lowndes HS), Gates Gerhart (34 RBI at East Mississippi CC) and Friendship Christian HS product Adam Gordon (ranked as the 39th best outfielder in Tennessee according to Perfect Game) will all compete for playing time.
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The infield sees one returner from last season in fourth-year first basemen Blaze Bell, who will see a considerable amount of time in the lineup after belting career-highs in home runs (six) and RBI (40) last season. At second base, Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player to Watch TJ Grines will take the reins following a year that saw him steal 48 bases and only strike out 14 times at Lurleen B. Wallace CC. USC Sumter transfer JT Popick (17 multi-hit games in 2024) steps into the shortstop position while freshman Cameron Greene (D2-AA All-Region team at Brentwood Academy) and Pearl River CC transfer Jonah Katsaboulas (80 RBI and career .481 slugging clip) will combine for multiple starts across the infield this spring.
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UT Martin will have a new backstop in 2025 as Tommy Koch (Pensacola State transfer) is expected to be the Opening Day starter for the Skyhawks. UT Martin also has more talent behind the plate with the likes of Frank Micallef (three starts last season after transferring from Iowa Western CC), Kevin Okins (Memphis transfer) and Houston Clark (second year with the program).
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"I can almost guarantee what we start with isn't what we're going to finish with as far as a lineup goes," Jenkins said. "We have to see how the pieces fit and I think this team will have a different dynamic than what we've had in the past. We've had some really good offenses here but we have the luxury of some speed in our lineup. It's been pretty apparent through our scrimmages that we're going to run a lot more than we ever have."
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With so many games early in the season, the Skyhawks have built up multiple arms on their pitching staff. Zach Wager (2023 OVC Freshman of the Year), Brandon King (32 strikeouts in 37.2 innings pitched at East Mississippi CC), Drake Bayles (25 starts in two seasons at East Mississippi CC), Jacob Sitton (4.61 ERA and 10 games with five or more strikeouts at Dyersburg State CC), Jeb Bartle (nine starts against OVC opponents), Quin Long (22nd-best right handed pitcher in the state of Tennessee according to Perfect Game out of Friendship Christian HS) and Quincy Thornton (14 innings pitched and 4.50 ERA at Florence-Darlington Technical College) will all see starting opportunities to begin the campaign. Current sophomore Silas Jones (three appearances, two games started as a freshman) suffered a season-ending injury in the offseason and will miss the year.
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Projected to see important roles will be Mason Shropshire (52.2 innings pitched, 4.78 ERA and eight outings of five or more strikeouts at Northwest Mississippi CC), Shawn Perez (second year at UT Martin after transferring from Dyersburg State CC), Aidan Karns (seven appearances for Dyersburg State CC last season), Austin Gast (12 appearances at Jacksonville State last year), J. Henry Hobson (fourth year as a Skyhawk, coming off season ending injury in 2024), Brock Arender (eight games with no earned runs last season), JP Nunn (Pickens County HS all-time leader in saves), Kaleb Baskin (13.2 innings pitched in first season at UT Martin) and Rett Edwards (six appearances for the Skyhawks in 2024).
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With a deep pitching staff and multiple players set to start games in the non-conference portion of the schedule, there will be plenty of time to see who needs to fill what role on the team.
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"Right now, we have a lot of people in a starting role to cover some innings and make sure our pitch counts are where they need to be going into the season," Jenkins said. "Our bullpen and the way that's going to shape out is something we're going to see in non-conference play. The roles in the bullpen as far as closing roles and guys that can bridge the gap, it takes a special type of mentality to pitch on the backside of a bullpen. That's something we have to test in a real baseball game because it's such a new group that we need to see what they're capable of doing and what suits them."
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With so much talent but a smaller roster, health will be the main focus for the 2025 squad.
Â
"We're running with a smaller roster than we have in years past so everyone that's on our roster sheet will be out there and will get an opportunity to play early," Jenkins said. "It's been really good for us to have a smaller roster, especially as coaches we've spent more one-on-one time with each individual. The downfall is you don't have a lot of depth. Fortunately, we have some guys that are athletic enough to move around on the field so I like the way the pieces fit right now. If we can stay healthy then I think we have a really good shot to finish the season in a position that we need to be in."
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UT Martin head coach Ryan Jenkins enters his eighth season with 20 newcomers and 14 returners that will look to build off the past two postseason appearances for the Orange and Blue.
Â
"Everyone is really excited to get going, it's always a fun time of year for college baseball," Jenkins said. "I think this year is a little bit different. Everything we've been doing up to this point has been really good as far as the energy levels and enthusiasm so the guys are firing on all cylinders. It's nice to see us play the way we are right now this time of year."
Â
After 25 players exited from last season, the Skyhawks have sought all around the college baseball ranks to build up not just their talent level but their chemistry as well.
Â
"We had a lot of turnover," Jenkins said. "Most of the guys we've brought in are junior college transfers so they have college baseball experience. We have some older guys and mature guys so for me, I don't feel like we lack a lot of experience. As far as considerable college reps and being in meaningful games at a high level, we're experienced in that regard. It's always a toss-up on how the chemistry is going to be with that many new guys. We have far more returners than new guys but luckily the team chemistry seems to be really good and they've gelled together. The older guys have put their arms around the younger guys and have shown them how we do things."
Â
The Skyhawks will be busy to begin the year, playing 16 games in 17 days to start the season with two four-game sets and one tournament at MTSU. In total, UT Martin will play 28 games against teams that finished with at least a .500 record last spring.
Â
"One of the things about the schedule is we have a lot of baseball early," Jenkins said. "That was intentionally done so we could pile in as many games as we could so we could get reps. Any opportunity we can get on the baseball field is going to be huge for us and we tried to make sure we had good competition and had teams that were going to test us."
Â
The outfield for the Skyhawks will see a mixture of talent from last season with junior college transfers and young freshmen. Senior Jalen Fithian saw 28 of his 50 games in the outfield and batted .292 with 20 RBI while redshirt sophomore Garner Anderson started six games in left field with 12 RBI in just 46 at-bats. Sophomore Cullen Box also will see playing time following seven games as a true freshman with one start. In terms of newcomers, Arderrius Townsend (2024 NAIA first team All-American at Blue Mountain College), Brody Capps (.388 average at Wallace CC-Dothan), Jordan Hudson (2024 GHSA state champion at Lowndes HS), Gates Gerhart (34 RBI at East Mississippi CC) and Friendship Christian HS product Adam Gordon (ranked as the 39th best outfielder in Tennessee according to Perfect Game) will all compete for playing time.
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The infield sees one returner from last season in fourth-year first basemen Blaze Bell, who will see a considerable amount of time in the lineup after belting career-highs in home runs (six) and RBI (40) last season. At second base, Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player to Watch TJ Grines will take the reins following a year that saw him steal 48 bases and only strike out 14 times at Lurleen B. Wallace CC. USC Sumter transfer JT Popick (17 multi-hit games in 2024) steps into the shortstop position while freshman Cameron Greene (D2-AA All-Region team at Brentwood Academy) and Pearl River CC transfer Jonah Katsaboulas (80 RBI and career .481 slugging clip) will combine for multiple starts across the infield this spring.
Â
UT Martin will have a new backstop in 2025 as Tommy Koch (Pensacola State transfer) is expected to be the Opening Day starter for the Skyhawks. UT Martin also has more talent behind the plate with the likes of Frank Micallef (three starts last season after transferring from Iowa Western CC), Kevin Okins (Memphis transfer) and Houston Clark (second year with the program).
Â
"I can almost guarantee what we start with isn't what we're going to finish with as far as a lineup goes," Jenkins said. "We have to see how the pieces fit and I think this team will have a different dynamic than what we've had in the past. We've had some really good offenses here but we have the luxury of some speed in our lineup. It's been pretty apparent through our scrimmages that we're going to run a lot more than we ever have."
Â
With so many games early in the season, the Skyhawks have built up multiple arms on their pitching staff. Zach Wager (2023 OVC Freshman of the Year), Brandon King (32 strikeouts in 37.2 innings pitched at East Mississippi CC), Drake Bayles (25 starts in two seasons at East Mississippi CC), Jacob Sitton (4.61 ERA and 10 games with five or more strikeouts at Dyersburg State CC), Jeb Bartle (nine starts against OVC opponents), Quin Long (22nd-best right handed pitcher in the state of Tennessee according to Perfect Game out of Friendship Christian HS) and Quincy Thornton (14 innings pitched and 4.50 ERA at Florence-Darlington Technical College) will all see starting opportunities to begin the campaign. Current sophomore Silas Jones (three appearances, two games started as a freshman) suffered a season-ending injury in the offseason and will miss the year.
Â
Projected to see important roles will be Mason Shropshire (52.2 innings pitched, 4.78 ERA and eight outings of five or more strikeouts at Northwest Mississippi CC), Shawn Perez (second year at UT Martin after transferring from Dyersburg State CC), Aidan Karns (seven appearances for Dyersburg State CC last season), Austin Gast (12 appearances at Jacksonville State last year), J. Henry Hobson (fourth year as a Skyhawk, coming off season ending injury in 2024), Brock Arender (eight games with no earned runs last season), JP Nunn (Pickens County HS all-time leader in saves), Kaleb Baskin (13.2 innings pitched in first season at UT Martin) and Rett Edwards (six appearances for the Skyhawks in 2024).
Â
With a deep pitching staff and multiple players set to start games in the non-conference portion of the schedule, there will be plenty of time to see who needs to fill what role on the team.
Â
"Right now, we have a lot of people in a starting role to cover some innings and make sure our pitch counts are where they need to be going into the season," Jenkins said. "Our bullpen and the way that's going to shape out is something we're going to see in non-conference play. The roles in the bullpen as far as closing roles and guys that can bridge the gap, it takes a special type of mentality to pitch on the backside of a bullpen. That's something we have to test in a real baseball game because it's such a new group that we need to see what they're capable of doing and what suits them."
Â
With so much talent but a smaller roster, health will be the main focus for the 2025 squad.
Â
"We're running with a smaller roster than we have in years past so everyone that's on our roster sheet will be out there and will get an opportunity to play early," Jenkins said. "It's been really good for us to have a smaller roster, especially as coaches we've spent more one-on-one time with each individual. The downfall is you don't have a lot of depth. Fortunately, we have some guys that are athletic enough to move around on the field so I like the way the pieces fit right now. If we can stay healthy then I think we have a really good shot to finish the season in a position that we need to be in."
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