Top Three Tennessee Pitchers from the 2023 Season
With the Tennessee baseball season at a close, it is time to look at who was at the top of their game in the Volunteers' pitching rotation. Here at the top three pitchers from the 2023 Tennessee baseball season.
Tennessee P Chase Dollander
3. Chase Dollander, RHP
It admittedly was a step-back season for Chase Dollander from 2022 to 2023. His ERA dropped from 2.30 to 4.75, and he had just above a .500 record during the 2023 season (7-6). However, when punches needed to be thrown, Dollander knew when to throw them. He dominated the Tennessee pitting staff with a strikeout total of 120 in 89 innings pitched. He also was very consistent with not walking opposing batters, as he only walked 30 in the 342 at-bats he competed in, leaving him with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4:1. The projected top ten picks in the MLB draft also held opposing lineups to a .243 average which was the lowest of any Vol pitchers with 10+ starts this past season.
2. Drew Beam, RHP
Tennessee's "Mr. Sunday" also took a slight step back in 2023 from last season. However, his arm power was still readily available for him, much like Dollander. In 2023, Beam finished with a 3.63 ERA and an impressive record of 9-4. He made 17 starts this season, tied for the most among the pitching staff, along with Dollander. Beam sometimes struggled, giving up hits to opposing lineups this season. He gave up 88 hits this season, the most among Tennessee pitchers. However, he combatted that with a low walk total (23). As for the strikeouts, he improved his 2022 mark by 22 of them. In 2023, the sophomore out of Murfreesboro finished with 88 strikeouts in 84.1 innings pitched. Beam's great record, solid ERA, high strikeout total, and low walk total leave him as one of the best pitchers in Knoxville for yet another season.
1. Chase Burns, RHP
It is hard to put relievers in a top three since you do not see them a whole bunch. However, it was a relatively easy decision to put Burns No. 1. Despite a shaky start to the season, his numbers out of the bullpen, especially late in the season in Omaha, were very noteworthy. He was second on the team in strikeouts as a reliever with 114. He also had a WHIP of 1.14 and gave up only 60 hits in 72.0 innings pitched. He also walked just 22 batters and gave up a .222 batting average to opposing lineups. During the Vols postseason run, he put up 22 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched and had 9 in the Omaha victory over Stanford. This was the first college World Series win for Tennessee since 2001. He gave up an astonishing one earned run and only eight hits in that same postseason span. Burns's electric numbers out of the bullpen gave the Volunteers a big boost off of the mound, giving him the top spot on this list.
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