University of Tennessee Athletics
Trio of Vols Tabbed to Baseball America Preseason Watch Lists
February 03, 2026 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the first time in the outlet's history, Baseball America will present national awards for the College Player of the Year, College Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year, and released its preseason watch lists for each respective award on Tuesday.
Tennessee had three players represented, one on each list, with Henry Ford (Player of the Year), Tegan Kuhns (Pitcher of the Year) and Cam Appenzeller (Freshman of the Year) all being recognized heading into the 2026 season.
For Ford, the honor adds to a growing list of preseason accolades after he was also named a preseason All-American by D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game.
Following two productive seasons at Virginia that resulted in 2024 Freshman All-America honors and 2025 All-ACC acclaim, Ford is projected to be a middle of the order bat for the Vols in 2026 and is considered a top prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft.
The Charlottesville, Virginia, native, started all 111 games he played in for the Cavaliers over the past two seasons and is a career .348 hitter with 102 runs scored, 22 doubles, 28 home runs and 115 RBIs. Ford also boasts a .587 slugging percentage and .414 on-base percentage for his collegiate career. He possesses the ability to play multiple positions, including third base, first base and all three outfield spots.
Kuhns earned a spot on the pitcher of the year watch list after also being named to Baseball America's Preseason All-America second team. After a solid freshman campaign and an impressive summer ball showing in the Cape Cod league, Kuhns is expected to be a key piece of the Volunteers' revamped pitching staff this season.
The sophomore right-hander finished third on the team with 10 starts in 2025, posting a 5.40 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 36.2 innings of work for the Big Orange.
Appenzeller rounds out the group after being included on the freshman of the year watch list. The ultra-talented left-hander was one of the country's elite prep pitching prospects in the 2025 recruiting class and a highly regarded MLB Draft prospect who was selected by the Seattle Mariners but decided forgo pro ball to enroll at Tennessee and play for the Big Orange.
All three of the Baseball America preseason watch lists can be seen HERE.
No. 3/14 Tennessee opens its 2026 season at the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium at 4:30 p.m. next Friday against Nicholls.
Single-game tickets for non-conference games can be purchased by clicking HERE. The Vols' full 2026 schedule can be found HERE.
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Baseball America Preseason Freshman of the Year Watch List
Blaine Brown – OF/LHP – Sophomore – Houston, Texas
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (TWP)
Henry Ford – OF/INF – Junior – Charlottesville, Va.
Baseball America Preseason Player of the Year Watch List
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 1st Team (1B)
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (DH)
Preseason All-SEC -- 1st Team (Perfect Game)Â
Brady Frederick – RHP – Junior – Knoxville, Tenn.
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Tegan Kuhns – RHP – Sophomore – Gettysburg, Pa.
Baseball America Preseason Pitcher of the Year Watch List
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (SP)
Tennessee had three players represented, one on each list, with Henry Ford (Player of the Year), Tegan Kuhns (Pitcher of the Year) and Cam Appenzeller (Freshman of the Year) all being recognized heading into the 2026 season.
For Ford, the honor adds to a growing list of preseason accolades after he was also named a preseason All-American by D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game.
Following two productive seasons at Virginia that resulted in 2024 Freshman All-America honors and 2025 All-ACC acclaim, Ford is projected to be a middle of the order bat for the Vols in 2026 and is considered a top prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft.
The Charlottesville, Virginia, native, started all 111 games he played in for the Cavaliers over the past two seasons and is a career .348 hitter with 102 runs scored, 22 doubles, 28 home runs and 115 RBIs. Ford also boasts a .587 slugging percentage and .414 on-base percentage for his collegiate career. He possesses the ability to play multiple positions, including third base, first base and all three outfield spots.
Kuhns earned a spot on the pitcher of the year watch list after also being named to Baseball America's Preseason All-America second team. After a solid freshman campaign and an impressive summer ball showing in the Cape Cod league, Kuhns is expected to be a key piece of the Volunteers' revamped pitching staff this season.
The sophomore right-hander finished third on the team with 10 starts in 2025, posting a 5.40 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 36.2 innings of work for the Big Orange.
Appenzeller rounds out the group after being included on the freshman of the year watch list. The ultra-talented left-hander was one of the country's elite prep pitching prospects in the 2025 recruiting class and a highly regarded MLB Draft prospect who was selected by the Seattle Mariners but decided forgo pro ball to enroll at Tennessee and play for the Big Orange.
All three of the Baseball America preseason watch lists can be seen HERE.
No. 3/14 Tennessee opens its 2026 season at the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium at 4:30 p.m. next Friday against Nicholls.
Single-game tickets for non-conference games can be purchased by clicking HERE. The Vols' full 2026 schedule can be found HERE.
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2026 Preseason Honors (Sorted Alphabetically by Player)
Cam Appenzeller – LHP – Freshman – Chatham, Ill.Baseball America Preseason Freshman of the Year Watch List
Blaine Brown – OF/LHP – Sophomore – Houston, Texas
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (TWP)
Henry Ford – OF/INF – Junior – Charlottesville, Va.
Baseball America Preseason Player of the Year Watch List
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 1st Team (1B)
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (DH)
Preseason All-SEC -- 1st Team (Perfect Game)Â
Brady Frederick – RHP – Junior – Knoxville, Tenn.
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Tegan Kuhns – RHP – Sophomore – Gettysburg, Pa.
Baseball America Preseason Pitcher of the Year Watch List
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (SP)
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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