June was a championship month for Tennessee baseball, but July has been great, too | Adams

June was the best month in the history of Tennessee baseball, for obvious reasons. The Vols won their first national championship in the sport.

You can’t top a championship. But July hasn’t been a bad follow-up.

A month after capping a 60-13 season by edging past Texas A&M in the College World Series, Tennessee’s baseball program has continued to make news. And the news has been good.

The latest: Former Tennessee star Todd Helton was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday in Cooperstown, New York. Former Auburn player Frank Thomas is the only other SEC baseball player in the Hall of Fame.

Other former Vols also have distinguished themselves in the past few weeks.

On July 12, Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Ben Joyce uncorked a 104.5 mph fastball. That’s the fastest pitch recorded this MLB season, but it wasn’t a career best for Joyce, who surpassed 105.5 mph at UT in 2022.

On the same night that Joyce hit 104.5 mph on the radar gun, former Tennessee third baseman Trey Lipscomb had a single and double for the Washington Nationals.

The next day, former Tennessee pitcher Chase Dollander — currently with the Spokane Indians, the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies — was a starter in the All-Star Futures game. He is 4-1 with a 2.83 earned run average and 111 strikeouts in 70 innings.

Garrett Crochet, the ace of UT’s 2020 pitching staff, already has made the majors. He was named to the American League All-Star team despite pitching for the Chicago White Sox, who are on pace to lose more than 100 games. Crochet allowed one hit and struck out one in his one All-Star inning.

Tennessee baseball also was front and center at the MLB draft. UT coach Tony Vitello served as a guest analyst, and eight Vols were drafted.

Second baseman Christian Moore and first baseman Blake Burke were picked in the first round. Third baseman Billy Amick and outfielder Dylan Dreiling were second-round picks. Others from Tennessee's championship team who were selected: pitcher Drew Beam (third round), outfielder Kavares Tears (fourth round), pitcher AJ Causey (fifth round) and pitcher Aaron Combs (eighth round).

But July hasn’t been just a month of goodbyes for Tennessee baseball.

Center fielder Hunter Ensley announced he was returning for another season after leaving his mark on the center field wall in the College World Series. His spectacular catch-and-crash play was one of the highlights of the postseason. He also batted .296 with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs in a power-packed lineup.

Ensley and freshman shortstop Dean Curley (.285, 12 home runs and 50 RBIs) will be the only returning starters, but the 2025 lineup already has been bolstered through the transfer portal. That’s another testament to Vitello’s recruiting.

He went from a victory in the CWS championship game to a celebratory parade to the recruiting trail without missing a beat. His up-tempo itinerary will pay off next season.

Tennessee’s next infield already looks formidable with shortstops Curley and Ariel Antigua returning and transfer additions Gavin Kilen from Louisville and Andrew Fischer from Ole Miss.

ADAMS:Todd Helton's Central teammates ready to celebrate with him at Baseball Hall of Fame induction

Kilen, who can play shortstop or second base, was a third-team All-ACC pick after batting .330 with nine home runs. Fischer, a third baseman/DH, made second-team All-SEC, batting .285 with 20 home runs.

Tennessee also strengthened its pitching staff through the portal. Its additions included a couple of 6-foot-5 power pitchers in Liam Doyle from Ole Miss and Tanner Franklin from Kennesaw State.

UT’s success in the portal was just one more reminder how high-profile the program has become. This summer, it has been big enough for two months.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 orjohn.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.