Drew Beam previews 2024 Tennessee baseball with Volquest

Tennessee junior pitcher Drew Beam recently set down with Volquest to preview the upcoming baseball season for the Big Orange.

During the course of the 10-minute interview that can be seen above, the right-handed starter breaks down how he’s grown in leadership over the years and what he’s done to prepare for his third year in the system. Beam also looks at some newcomers on the bump and lists some names to be watching, as well as the group of catchers and their roles moving forward.

Below is a written transcript of Volquest’s chat with Tennessee pitcher Drew Beam.

Drew Beam written transcript

On how he’s grown as a leader…

“Main thing is kind of going from that younger guy, learning under people and taking in a lot of things to being the veteran on the squad – giving my two cents to everybody and letting everybody piece things and pick things off of me from my experiences that I’ve had. I’m one of the older and more experienced guys on our staff this year. That whole aspect changes after being surrounded the last couple of years by guys like Redmond Walsh, Camden Sewell and [Chase] Dollander last year. Those guys had a lot more experience than I did and I could pick and feed off of them and learn some things from them every single day. Now, I’m trying to be the guy for the younger cats on the team this year.”

On potentially changing to Friday or Saturday starter…

“I think the biggest turn or really change in anything would be timing of the day. Most Sunday games, we are playing that noon or 1 o’clock start, so it’s a pregame breakfast and then you’re playing. There’s not other meals in there. I think the biggest thing is how Friday and Saturday games are usually night games, so daily routine would change if it came to that. So, that would be a little bit of a learning curve, but I’ve seen other guys do it, so it shouldn’t be too hard to adjust to.

“Another thing is, it’s different pitching at night than it is during the day. During the day it’s a lot hotter. Early season, it’s definitely a lot colder during night games. Sometimes that sun can save you even if it’s 30 degrees out there – just having that sun hitting you feels really nice. So, subtle adjustments on stuff like that. The game plan of how we attack, how I’m going to go after hitters and stuff, that won’t change regardless of the day I’m throwing on. Really excited to see where things are and how things go this season.”

On what he’s done to improve this offseason…

“The big emphasis this offseason was to get more in depth into the weight room and work on the diet. Pitching wise, trying to really nail down the cutter. Had it last year but kind of went away from it, so we added it back in and really just refining it. Really just trying to perfect my game, perfect the craft of pitching and dial down the little things. Not trying to change too much but get good at the little things.”

On the newcomer pitchers…

“Some arms I’m really excited to see – we saw him freshman year but had some things go on last year, but it’s going to be Wyatt Evans. I think he’s going to make a role for us and is a good guy on our side of things. Think he’ll throw some quality innings for us. Another lefty – Chris Stamos from Cal – he’s a new face in Knoxville but has been around the game for a while. He’s going to do us some good and get us some good innings. Another name that I like and is new to Knoxville is Marcus Phillips. Big right-handed pitcher. Dude looks like a hoss when he’s out there on the mound. He’s massive, really strong and muscular dude. He throws the crap out of the ball. That’ll be another big name to watch. We got a handful of freshmen that can pick and choose their innings. We will see who makes it to the top of that totem pole of that freshmen class, but they’ve been fighting and crawling trying to get to the front to pick out some innings this year. It’s going to be fun to see who comes out on top there.”     

On advice he would give to freshman pitchers…

“Coach has shown that he shows no shame in starting freshmen. If they are worthy of it, then he’s all for it. It’s kind of what he did with me and [Chase] Burns. He threw us into the fire and let us go and run with it – run wild with it. My advice to them is to take it every step of the time, take it one game at a time. Really slow the game down and realize it’s just another baseball game. Other than the fans on the outside, it’s the same game you’ve been playing since you were five-years-old. It’s just baseball. At the end of the day, it’s just throwing the ball to your catcher and hoping they don’t hit it. Don’t let the outside noise get to ya.”  

On his increase in velocity over the years…

“That’s just buying in and really focusing on the weight room during the offseason. That’s really all I can attribute it to. It all translates, so whatever you’re going to do in the weight room – doing the right things in the weight room especially – it translates well to the on the field performance.”

On catchers and Cannon Peebles…

“The whole catching staff – coach E [Josh Elander] does so well with those guys. They are all so bought in and are the hardest working guys on the team. First people doing something on the field and the last people out there. So, they are always working and doing so many things from catching us, doing their own hitting, or doing PFP work. They are always on the run doing something. They are absolute grinders out there. So, the whole catching staff have been really good. They are being super competitive which is something I love. Every day it’s heathy competition and going after each other, trying to one up each other in every single aspect. It’s been great watching them in the fall and seeing the growth form the new guys – getting in and learning coach E’s system and how we do things here. Maturing through that system and learning from Cal [Stark] and Chuck [Taylor], who have been here for a couple of years. Seeing that knowledge transfer over and seeing how everyone is buying in with all those catchers – they are ready to go to work for us. That’s what we like to see and it’s been good to see that through the fall and as we get into season here.”

On what needs to happen leading up to Opening Day…

“Just keep building together to get to a team aspect of things. Right now, we are playing each other every single day. It’s constant competition against each other. But here in a few weeks, we will dial in and start going as one whole team where every single player is pulling one rope instead of pulling against each other. It will be that aspect of once we get on that flight to go to Texas, it’s time to be ne unit, get together and have one goal in mind – to win ballgames.”