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Reese Chapman to remain with Vols for 2026 season

On3 imageby: Eric Cain07/24/25_Cainer
Reese Chapman. Credit: UT Athletics
Reese Chapman. Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee junior outfielder Reese Chapman went undrafted in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft two weeks ago and will remain with the program for the 2026 season, sources told Volquest. The slugger was a draft-eligible junior who has spent three seasons on Rocky Top and the 2025 campaign as the everyday right fielder.       

Chapman served as Tennessee’s everyday right fielder as a junior in 2025, batting .273 with 13 home runs and 53 runs batted in across 216 at-bats in 64 games played (all starts). The outfielder scored 44 runs, hit 11 doubles and two triples while also stealing four bases. Chapman blasted five home runs in Southeastern Conference play and drove in 18 runs across 29 league contests as the Vols eventually bowed out to Arkansas in super regional play.  

In 2024, the sophomore was a part-time player while appearing in 50 games with 32 starts. Chapman was one of many who got reps as the club’s designated hitter, contributing a .274 average with seven home runs and 31 RBI.

Chapman checked in at No. 181 Baseball America’s MLB Draft rankings but does not appear on MLB Pipeline’s top-250 prospect list.

“Chapman was a tooled-up high schooler who flashed power and speed with his Grandview High team in Colorado. He was a tough sign and made it to campus at Tennessee, where he became a regular starter in his 2024 sophomore season,” Baseball America wrote on the Tennessee junior. “A 6-foot-1, 225-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter, Chapman has a picturesque lefthanded swing with solid bat speed and a slight uppercut path.

“He shows power to all fields and has at least above-average raw power, though he can be a bit aggressive and has some real swing-and-miss questions vs. secondaries. Chapman has slowed down in college and profiles as a corner outfielder in pro ball.”

Tennessee in the 2025 MLB Draft

Round 1 (No. 5 overall) Liam Doyle – Cardinals
Round 1 (No. 9 overall) Steele Hall (signee) – Reds
Round 1 (No. 10 overall) Billy Carlson (signee) – White Sox
Round 1 (No. 13 overall) Gavin Kilen – Giants
Round 1 (No. 20 overall) Andrew Fischer – Brewers
Round 1 (No. 25 overall) Kruz Schoolcraft (signee) – Padres
Round 1 (No. 33 overall) Marcus Phillips – Red Sox
Round 2 (No. 52 overall) AJ Russell – Rangers
Round 2 (No. 64 overall) Dean Curley – Guardians
Round 2 (No. 72 overall) Tanner Franklin – Cardinals
Round 3 (No. 105 overall) Nate Snead – Angels
Round 5 (No. 149 overall) Matt Barr (JUCO) – Twins
Round 7 (No. 225 overall) Mason Estrada (portal) – Dodgers
Round 14 (No. 430 overall) Clay Edmondson (portal) – Padres
Round 15 (No. 456 overall) DJ Newman (portal) – Astros
Round 17 (No. 522 overall) Cannon Peebles – Guardians
Round 18 (No. 534 overall) Ethan Moore (signee) – Reds
Round 19 (No. 572 overall) Cameron Appenzeller (signee) – Mariners

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