Photo By Elliot Walker/Tennessee Athletics
The 2026 MLB Draft was relatively standard for Tennessee baseball. Professional teams selected six members of the Vols’ 2026 roster. Tennessee lost five players from its highly ranked high school signing class to the draft while getting even more players who were draft risks to campus.
What was surprising for Tennessee is that they didn’t lose a single transfer commit to the draft. Jake McCoy, Andrew Duncan, Ricky Ojeda, Hayden Simmerson and Travis Sanders were all varying degrees of risk to begin their professional careers instead of playing at Tennessee next season.
Toronto drafted McCoy and Philadelphia drafted Duncan but both turned down their professional offers to play at Tennessee next season. While Josh Elander and his staff were unsurprised by losing five high school signees, they did not expect to get their entire transfer class to campus.
“That was a shock, to be honest,” Elander said on Sports Talk 99.1 last week. “I think when you look at some of the talent, I mean, if you start with Jake McCoy, I mean, with a guy with SEC experience that’s up to 99 MPH from the left side, with the wipeout breaking ball. Or Ricky Ojeda is a guy that’s, you could argue is one of the most polished relievers and has a chance to start and has gotten a ton of outs on the west coast. A former Team USA guy. And again, if you just look down that list, it’s Major League quality tools across the board.”
McCoy boasts an upper-90s fastball that made him a serious draft risk. But having struggled with his command in 2025 and missing the entire 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, McCoy decided to come to Tennessee, polish his game and then pursue his professional career.
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Duncan (Wright State) and Ojeda (UC Irvine) each have proved productive at the mid-major level. With a big year in the SEC, each could improve their draft stock.
“We have a really, really special place,” Elander said. “And I think that’s the reason why not only kids know they can get better here, know they can win here, but I think they’re going to have a great time in Knoxville. And it’s a pretty special combo. And I think that’s the reason we were able to get everybody here.”
Tennessee’s 11-player transfer class is one of the nation’s best. Baseball America ranks it first nationally while 64analytics ranks it No. 3 nationally.
McCoy, Northwestern State’s Brody Trosclair and Louisville’s Parker Detmers will compete for a weekend starting spot. Simmerson, Ojeda and two-way Braydon Kersey will have chances to earn a role in Tennessee’s bullpen.
Positionally, the new group will compete for a number of starting positions. Cal Baptist’s Chris Ramirez, Air Force’s Wyatt Hanoian, Baylor’s Travis Sanders and FIU’s Mario Trivella are all infielders who will compete for starting spots. Duncan enters the fall as the favorite to start in centerfield.
Tennessee was in a spot where they could afford losing an infielder or pitcher to the draft. Now with all 11 transfers making it to campus, they will have an increase in competition at multiple spots this fall.