University of Tennessee Athletics
Three Vols Named NCBWA Preseason All-Americans
February 06, 2026 | Baseball
DALLAS – With the start of the 2026 season a week away, the final major preseason All-America teams were announced on Friday as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released their respective teams.
Three Vols were represented on those teams in Brady Frederick (second team relief pitcher), Henry Ford (third team outfielder) and Garrett Wright (third team catcher), all three of which will be in their first season with the program after transferring to Tennessee in the offseason.
Frederick joined UT's program after two seasons at ETSU, which included a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him help lead the Bucs to SoCon regular season and tournament titles as well as a spot in the NCAA Nashville Regional.
The Knoxville native and Bearden High School product was tabbed the 2025 SoCon Pitcher of the Year after leading ETSU in appearances (24), wins (eight), saves (four), ERA (2.67), WHIP (0.89), innings pitched (77.2), strikeouts (76) and opponent batting average (.183), all as a relief pitcher. Frederick is expected to see plenty of action out of the bullpen for the Big Orange this season.
Ford, who was one of the most coveted players in last year's transfer portal, has the ability to play multiple positions and will likely see time at third base as well in the outfield. 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 this year 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.
Wright rounds out the group, garnering his first preseason All-America nod this season after earning ABCA All-East Region first-team honors and first-team All-MAC recognition at Bowling Green in 2025. A versatile defender who can catch and play the outfield, was also named the 2025 MAC Defensive Player of the Year.
The Ohio native was just as productive at the plate for the Falcons, posting a conference best .406 batting average – which ranked 22nd nationally last season – and a .513 on-base percentage that led the MAC and ranked 19th in the country.
The full 2026 NCBWA Preseason All-America teams can be found 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.
Â
Baseball America Preseason Freshman of the Year Watch List
Brandon Arvidson – LHP – RS-Junior – Dripping Springs, Texas
Preseason All-SEC – 1st Team (Coaches)Â
Blaine Brown – OF/LHP – Sophomore – Houston, Texas
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (TWP)
Levi Clark – UTL – Sophomore – Marietta, Ga.
Preseason All-SEC – 2nd Team (Coaches)Â
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)
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (OF)
Preseason All-SEC -- 1st Team (Coaches, Perfect Game)Â
Brady Frederick – RHP – Junior – Knoxville, Tenn.
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (RP)
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)
Garrett Wright – C/OF – Junior – Massillon, Ohio
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (C)
Three Vols were represented on those teams in Brady Frederick (second team relief pitcher), Henry Ford (third team outfielder) and Garrett Wright (third team catcher), all three of which will be in their first season with the program after transferring to Tennessee in the offseason.
Frederick joined UT's program after two seasons at ETSU, which included a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him help lead the Bucs to SoCon regular season and tournament titles as well as a spot in the NCAA Nashville Regional.
The Knoxville native and Bearden High School product was tabbed the 2025 SoCon Pitcher of the Year after leading ETSU in appearances (24), wins (eight), saves (four), ERA (2.67), WHIP (0.89), innings pitched (77.2), strikeouts (76) and opponent batting average (.183), all as a relief pitcher. Frederick is expected to see plenty of action out of the bullpen for the Big Orange this season.
Ford, who was one of the most coveted players in last year's transfer portal, has the ability to play multiple positions and will likely see time at third base as well in the outfield. 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 this year 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.
Wright rounds out the group, garnering his first preseason All-America nod this season after earning ABCA All-East Region first-team honors and first-team All-MAC recognition at Bowling Green in 2025. A versatile defender who can catch and play the outfield, was also named the 2025 MAC Defensive Player of the Year.
The Ohio native was just as productive at the plate for the Falcons, posting a conference best .406 batting average – which ranked 22nd nationally last season – and a .513 on-base percentage that led the MAC and ranked 19th in the country.
The full 2026 NCBWA Preseason All-America teams can be found 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.
Â
2026 Preseason Honors (Sorted Alphabetically by Player)
Cam Appenzeller – LHP – Freshman – Chatham, Ill.Baseball America Preseason Freshman of the Year Watch List
Brandon Arvidson – LHP – RS-Junior – Dripping Springs, Texas
Preseason All-SEC – 1st Team (Coaches)Â
Blaine Brown – OF/LHP – Sophomore – Houston, Texas
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (TWP)
Levi Clark – UTL – Sophomore – Marietta, Ga.
Preseason All-SEC – 2nd Team (Coaches)Â
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)
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (OF)
Preseason All-SEC -- 1st Team (Coaches, Perfect Game)Â
Brady Frederick – RHP – Junior – Knoxville, Tenn.
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (RP)
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)
Garrett Wright – C/OF – Junior – Massillon, Ohio
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (C)
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
UTL
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C/OF
/ BaseballEverything Orange S3 | Reese Chapman (Baseball)
Friday, February 06
Everything Orange S3 | Josh Elander (Baseball)
Friday, November 07
BSB | Josh Elander Introductory Press Conference (10.27.25)
Monday, October 27
BSB | Tennessee Super Regional Postgame Presser at Arkansas (6.8.25)
Sunday, June 08
