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Freshman Levi Clark becoming a staple of the Tennessee lineup

On3 imageby: Eric Cain03/01/25_Cainer
Tennessee DH Levi Clark. Credit: UT Athletics
Tennessee DH Levi Clark. Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee coach Tony Vitello often tells the media that ‘the players choose the lineup.’ No, the players don’t imitate Bobby Cox and fill in the lineup card prior to every game, but their play dictates who makes the cut on the lineup card for Vitello each game.

Freshman Levi Clark is making his job easier each and every day. The rookie has played in every game this year and has made seven starts. He’s started each of the past three games and even made his first defensive start (first base) on Saturday after seeing all of his previous starts come at designated hitter.

Not only that, but the newcomer has hit fifth in the order the past two games in Houston. That’s pretty impressive for an 18-year-old to come in and stake his claim with the defending national champions.

“The calm, presence for such a young guy, but the strength, [too],” Vitello said on Saturday. “He’s as strong as a guy like Pete Alonso — or not Pete Alonso now, Pete Alonso in college — or Dean Curley, some of the guys we have on our team. As strong as an upperclassman, is the way to say it. But for a freshman, just has a calm about him and I think they [freshmen class] really all do.” 

On Saturday against Rice, Clark blasted his fourth home run of the season. He hammered the three-run drive to right field in the top of the second inning to blow the game wide open for the Vols, who took a 7-1 lead at the time. The ball travelled 368 feet threw the air at 102 miles per hour exit velocity and left the park in a hurry.

“I thought it was a great swing,” outfielder Hunter Ensley commented in postgame. “I’m not exactly sure what the count was at the time but it was off [JD] McCracken, who had a bunch of his stuff going middle-away of the plate. So, good approach for a pup and he went with the pitch. Great swing.”

The man of few words did not elaborate as much as his veteran teammate, but Clark made sure he was driving through the ball on contact.

“I saw a changeup up and just tried to get to the inside-bottom of it and drive through it,” Clark agreed.

Clark entered the weekend of play leading the nation with a .600 batting average. He’s collected two hits thus far in Houston while providing a big right-handed presence in the heart of the order. Reese Chapman, who has hit sixth behind him, has benefitted while expending his season-opening hit-streak to 10 games.

And let’s not forget the impact Clark made last weekend coming off the bench for two pinch hit home runs against Samford.

At the end of the day, players make the starting lineup – just as Vitello says. Clark is making it almost impossible to remove him from the batting order as he continues to swing arguably the best bat on the team to begin 2025.  

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