Tanner Franklin commits to Tennessee baseball as transfer pitcher: 'It is pretty self-explanatory'

Tanner Franklin heard music in the background when Tony Vitello called him in late June.

The Tennessee baseball coach apologized for the noise. The Vols were taking batting practice at the College World Series, Vitello explained to open a frank conversation about wanting the Kennesaw State transfer to be a Vol.

Message heard.

“It is pretty self-explanatory,” Franklin said. “You want to get in there and try and see if you can help for next year’s run.”

Franklin announced his commitment to Tennessee on Tuesday as the first transfer to join the defending national champion Vols this offseason . The 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher has a 6.34 ERA in 34 games with three starts in two seasons. The Jefferson City, Tennessee, product struck out 61 in 38⅓ innings with 40 walks.

Tanner Franklin is first Tennessee baseball transfer commitment

Franklin had a short list of schools he hoped to hear from and to keep it short and sweet in the transfer portal.

“Tennessee was No. 1 on that list just being a hometown kid,” Franklin said. “I was trusting God that he was going to help me through the process and get me in touch with the people I needed and he provided that."

Franklin also heard from Vanderbilt and Lipscomb primarily.

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Vitello’s phone call checked a big box for Franklin. He didn’t want a scripted chat with a coach and sought honesty. Vitello got to the point: The Vols wanted Franklin on the roster and knew he wanted to be on the roster.

He made his commitment after Vols assistant coach Josh Elander visited him in the Cape Cod League, where he is pitching for the Chatham Anglers this summer.

“That team is filled with a bunch of guys who have the same goals: to win a lot of games and have a lot of fun doing it,” Franklin said. “They work really hard, and their character is in a great place. It’s almost like you can’t not want to be part of it.”

Franklin relies on an overpowering fastball that touches 99 mph. He also throws a cutter, curveball and changeup. He thinks his cutter might be his best pitch because it plays well off his fastball, but he loves throwing his curveball.

He is coming to Tennessee hoping to become a more consistent strike-thrower, which is central to the ideology of Vols pitching coach Frank Anderson.

Franklin had a 5.60 ERA with a 4-1 record as a sophomore in 2024. He threw 27⅓ innings across 21 appearances, striking out 44 and walking 27. He had similar splits as a freshman with 18 strikeouts and 13 walks in 11 innings.

Tennessee baseball has had major success in transfer portal

Tennessee has been to back-to-back College World Series with a big boost from transfers in both seasons.

The Vols added third baseman Billy Amick and his 23 homers as the biggest offensive addition. Dalton Bargo and Cannon Peebles also were key transfers who will be back in the 2025 season on the offensive side. AJ Causey, Nate Snead, and Chris Stamos had pivotal roles on the pitching staff. Causey was one of two pitchers in the nation to win 13 games.

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In 2023, Andrew Lindsey emerged as Tennessee's Friday night starter as a transfer. Maui Ahuna, Zane Denton, and Griffin Merritt were key cogs in the lineup. Denton's three-run homer at Clemson was the biggest swing of the season. The 2023 team also benefitted from two 2022 transfers in pitchers Chase Dollander and Seth Halvorsen.

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: Tanner Franklin commits to Tennessee baseball as transfer pitcher: 'It is pretty self-explanatory'