Tennessee Baseball Loses Elite Defender to NCAA Transfer Portal

Tennessee baseball loses an elite defender to the NCAA Transfer Portal on Monday.

Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander runs out to his spot at third base during the NCAA college baseball game against Nicholls on Feb. 13, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. | Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The newest player to enter the transfer portal for the Tennessee Volunteers baseball club is arguably the worst departure for the Vols, as they are losing a player who had a great shot at being a starter for the Tennessee Volunteers next season. The player that they have lost to the portal in this go around is an infielder and an elite fielder at that, Ariel Antigua.

Ariel Antigua Enters the NCAA Transfer Portal

Tennessee infielder Ariel Antigua (2) is hit by a pitch during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Kent State at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Feb. 21, 2026. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Antigua didn't have the chance to play as much, and a large reason for that was due to his bat, but he is one of the better fielders in college baseball. He is someone who continued to get better throughout the season and is someone who very well could see the field at another SEC school due to his glove. If he continues to grow as a batter, he will be an elite baseball player at the college level.

He is one of the players who was expected to enter the transfer portal after fully losing his job to Manny Marin, but regardless, it isn't great for the Vols to be losing the standout infield prospect.

He isn't the first to leave the program on Monday, as he is the fifth player from the Tennessee baseball program to announce his transfer away from the Vols after they were defeated by the East Carolina Pirates and the VCU Rams.

The Vols will now need to look for another infielder after they lose four on the day to the transfer portal. Their biggest one yet being the talented glove of Antigua, who is bound to find his footing elsewhere.

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