Tennessee baseball pitcher Kirby Connell is coming back for another season, UT announced Monday.
The fifth-year senior has been a staple of the Vols’ bullpen in recent seasons.
Connell has a 6-1 record with a 2.76 ERA in four seasons. He has made 89 appearances and thrown 95⅓ innings.
The Blacksburg, South Carolina, product threw 80 innings between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, compiling a 5-1 record. He had a 4-0 record with a 1.66 ERA in the 2022 season.
He is the second player this week to opt to use a fifth year in 2024 for the Vols. Third baseman Zane Denton indicated he will be back in Knoxville on Saturday. Both have an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Connell’s return gives UT a veteran presence after key departures from the bullpen, including Chase Burns, Seth Halvorsen, Camden Sewell. The Vols added two pitchers in the portal in Wichita State transfer Nate Snead and Jacksonville State transfer AJ Causey.
UT also loaded up on pitchers in the 2023 recruiting class, notably left-handed pitcher Matt Dallas from Briarcrest Christian in Memphis, right-handed pitcher Derek Schaefer, and two-way player Brayden Sharp.
Tennessee had eight players taken in the 2023 MLB Draft, including a program-record six pitchers. Halvorsen was among the highest-drafted relief pitcher. Vols starters Chase Dollander and Andrew Lindsey were selected. Relievers Zach Joyce, Jake Fitzgibbons and Bryce Jenkins also were selected.
Burns transferred to Wake Forest.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Kirby Connell returning to Tennessee baseball for 2024 season