Evan Blanco has committed to Tennessee baseball, giving the Vols a left-handed pitcher with starting experience.

Blanco went 12-8 with a 4.17 ERA in three seasons at Virginia, where he pitched in 56 games with 26 starts. He started 18 games in 2024 and eight games in 2025. His best season was in 2024 when he was 8-3 with a 3.62 ERA with 99 strikeouts and 27 walks in 99â…“ innings. In his career, he has walked only 46 in 162 innings.

He picked Tennessee over Miami, Texas A&M and Mississippi State, announcing his commitment July 2 on social meida.

The 6-foot, 205-pound Blanco is eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft, but is expected to make it to campus.

Blanco is the second player to commit to Tennessee from Virginia, joining first baseman/outfielder Henry Ford.

Blanco is the sixth pitcher to commit to the Vols out of the portal. The Vols also have two two-way players committed.

Landon Mack is a likely weekend starter for Tennessee. He was 6-5 with a 4.03 ERA as a freshman at Rutgers before transferring. The right-handed pitcher started 15 games and was named to the Big Ten all-freshman team. The 6-1, 200-pound Mack had 70 strikeouts and 17 walks in 80⅓ innings. He walked fewer than two batters per nine innings, one of the top rates in the nation. 

CONRAD: Ethan Conrad visited Tennessee baseball as elite Wake Forest transfer | Source

UT has picked up Brady Frederick of ETSU, Bo Rhudy of Kennesaw State, Clay Edmondson of UNC Asheville and Mason Estrada of MIT as transfer commitments. Both Edmondson and Estrada are eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft and are considered draft risks.

Frederick, a Bearden native, was 8-2 with four saves and a 2.67 ERA. The submarine right-hander threw 77â…” innings in 24 appearances, striking out 76 and walking 19.

Edmondson was 5-1 and a 2.20 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 81â…” innings in 13 starts at UNC Asheville. The submarine right-hander was named the Big South pitcher of the year.

TRACKER: Tennessee baseball transfer tracker: Vols, Tony Vitello building 2026 roster in portal

Estrada went 6-0 with a 2.21 ERA in 10 starts for MIT. The right-handed pitcher struck out 66 in 40⅔ innings with 23 walked. Opponents hit .154 against Estrada, who throws in the upper 90s. 

Rhudy had a 2.97 ERA with a 6-1 record and 76 strikeouts to 19 walks in 72â…” innings in two seasons with the Owls. He was 2-0 with a 3.16 ERA as a sophomore in 2025. He struck out 44 and walked five in 37 innings.

Rice two-way player Blaine Brown and Bowling Green two-way star DJ Newman also are committed. Newman was a weekend starter at Bowling Green and a designated hitter who can play in the outfield. Brown pitched sparingly, while he was a unanimous freshman All-American.

The left-handed Brown threw in seven games, but only once after March 18. He allowed 10 earned runs in 4â…“ innings on nine hits and 12 walks. Newman is 7-4 with a 3.60 ERA in 27 career appearances with 15 starts. He struck out 91 in 85 innings.

UT has commitments from Ford and Garrett Wright from Bowling Green on the offensive side. Wright can catch and play in the outfield.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.