An unexpected move happened in college baseball this past week. Former North Carolina Tar Heel first baseman and designated hitter Alberto Osuna transferred to Tennessee a mere two weeks before the 2025 season begins.
BREAKING: Former North Carolina slugger Alberto Osuna is joining the Tennessee baseball program two weeks out from opening day.
Osuna was at the University of Tampa during the fall. He arrives in Knoxville tomorrow.https://t.co/R5a3rKNlSK
— Ben McKee (@benmckee14) February 1, 2025
In three seasons in Chapel Hill from 2022-2024, he finished with a .259 batting average, 167 hits, and 140 RBI.
In all three seasons, he reached double figures in home runs. This made him a prime target for the Tennessee Volunteers when searching for a last second transfer. The Vols have a power-hitting identity to their team.
In 2024, Tennessee hit 184 home runs last season as a team. That was the second-most by a team in a single season ever behind the 1997 LSU Tigers.
Osuna was going to play Division Two baseball for the University of Tampa this season. That was his original transfer destination upon leaving North Carolina because he was out of Division One eligibility.
Before playing for the Tar Heels, Osuna played at Walters State Community College. His time at the JUCO level factored into his ability to still have Division One eligibility in 2025.
The NCAA granted waivers to former JUCO players following the lawsuit they were involved with regarding Vanderbilt college football player Diego Pavia. Pavia was a former junior college football player who wanted more seasons of Division One eligibility and the court ruled in his favor thus granting junior college players extra eligibility.
Thus, it led to players like Osuna getting this opportunity to play more Division One baseball when their eligibility would have normally ended. All of this allowed the Volunteers to swoop in and pick him up in the transfer portal at late notice.
Osuna also helps Tennessee at first base as they had turnover from last season when they lost Blake Burke.
The Vols will be without first base candidate Alex Perry this season because of personal matters. This stretched head coach Tony Vitello’s team thin at the position.
Now, Osuna, grant it on short notice, has a chance to plug a hole for Tennessee this season at first base. His power hitting makes him a solid player in this lineup on a team that is defending its 2024 national championship.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
Photo Credit: Wiki Commons
