On Thursday, Reese Chapman told the Knoxville News Sentinel that he is returning to Tennessee for his senior season in 2026 after going undrafted in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Chapman had a solid 2025 season for the Volunteers. He had a .273 batting average with a career-high 13 home runs and a career-high 53 RBIs.
He was also a great defender in the field with a 1.000 fielding percentage and 89 putouts.
Chapman’s presence on the field for Tennessee will be crucial for 2026. Dating back to his freshman season in 2023, he has played in a total of 129 games. This is the kind of experience for a growing and developing Tennessee team to have.
During this past season’s home weekend series against the Florida Gators, the Volunteers’ head coach, Tony Vitello, spoke highly of Chapman to World Baseball Network.
“He’s our favorite type of guy,” Vitello said. “He’s been a great teammate. He’s been patient in the dugout but eager with work ethic.”
Chapman has been a part of three super regional appearances and helped Tennessee win the 2024 national championship.
2025 Tennessee Volunteers Season Results – In 2025, the Tennessee Volunteers finished the season 46-19 overall and were 16-14 in SEC play.
In the NCAA Tournament, they hosted a regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville as the 14th overall national seed.
Upon winning the regional championship, Tennessee made it to a super regional for the fifth straight season. They are the only program in college baseball history to accomplish this feat.
Photo: Reese Chapman (13) watches as the ball leave the park for a homerun during an NCAA regional baseball game against Miami on Friday, May 30, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
