University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Trio Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
February 10, 2026 | Baseball
DALLAS – Tennessee had an SEC-best three players tabbed to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List on Tuesday, which is awarded each year to the nation's top relief pitcher.
Brandon Arvidson, Brady Frederick and Bo Rhudy were all recognized among the top relievers in the country entering this season.
After a strong finish in 2025, Arvidson returns for his second season on Rocky Top and is expected to play a major role on UT's pitching staff.
The ultra-talented left hander went 2-0 with a 4.19 ERA in 30 appearances last season and posted an incredible 16.3 strikeouts per nine innings, racking up 70 punchouts in 38.2 innings of work. Arvidson also held opposing hitters to a .196 batting average on the year, which is the top mark among returning pitchers on this year's team.
Frederick enters his first year with UT after two seasons at ETSU, which included a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him help lead the Bucs to SoCon regular season and tournament titles as well as a spot in the NCAA Nashville Regional.
The Knoxville native and Bearden High School product was tabbed the 2025 SoCon Pitcher of the Year after leading ETSU in appearances (24), wins (eight), saves (four), ERA (2.67), WHIP (0.89), innings pitched (77.2), strikeouts (76) and opponent batting average (.183), all as a relief pitcher. Frederick is expected to see plenty of action out of the bullpen for the Big Orange this season.
Rhudy is also a newcomer to the Vols after spending the past two years at Kennesaw State, where he was one of the Owls' top contributors out of the bullpen as a freshman and a sophomore.
The Chickamauga, Georgia, native, appeared in 21 games and led the team with five saves in 2025 while posting a 2-0 record and a 3.16 ERA. As a true freshman in 2024, Rhudy earned All-ASUN first team honors and ASUN All-Freshman Team recognition after posting a 4-1 record with six saves.
The full NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watch List can be found by clicking HERE.
No. 3/14 Tennessee opens its 2026 season at the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium at 4:30 p.m. on Friday against Nicholls.
Single-game tickets for non-conference games can be purchased by clicking HERE. The Vols' full 2026 schedule can be found HERE.
Baseball America Preseason Freshman of the Year Watch List
Brandon Arvidson – LHP – RS-Junior – Dripping Springs, Texas
NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-SEC – 1st Team (Coaches)
Blaine Brown – OF/LHP – Sophomore – Houston, Texas
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (TWP)
Levi Clark – UTL – Sophomore – Marietta, Ga.
Preseason All-SEC – 2nd Team (Coaches)
Henry Ford – OF/INF – Junior – Charlottesville, Va.
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Baseball America Preseason Player of the Year Watch List
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 1st Team (1B)
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (DH)
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (OF)
Preseason All-SEC -- 1st Team (Coaches, Perfect Game)
Brady Frederick – RHP – Junior – Knoxville, Tenn.
NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (RP)
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Tegan Kuhns – RHP – Sophomore – Gettysburg, Pa.
Baseball America Preseason Pitcher of the Year Watch List
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (SP)
Bo Rhudy – RHP – Junior – Chickamauga, Ga.
NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
Garrett Wright– C/OF – Junior – Massillon, Ohio
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (C)
Brandon Arvidson, Brady Frederick and Bo Rhudy were all recognized among the top relievers in the country entering this season.
After a strong finish in 2025, Arvidson returns for his second season on Rocky Top and is expected to play a major role on UT's pitching staff.
The ultra-talented left hander went 2-0 with a 4.19 ERA in 30 appearances last season and posted an incredible 16.3 strikeouts per nine innings, racking up 70 punchouts in 38.2 innings of work. Arvidson also held opposing hitters to a .196 batting average on the year, which is the top mark among returning pitchers on this year's team.
Frederick enters his first year with UT after two seasons at ETSU, which included a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him help lead the Bucs to SoCon regular season and tournament titles as well as a spot in the NCAA Nashville Regional.
The Knoxville native and Bearden High School product was tabbed the 2025 SoCon Pitcher of the Year after leading ETSU in appearances (24), wins (eight), saves (four), ERA (2.67), WHIP (0.89), innings pitched (77.2), strikeouts (76) and opponent batting average (.183), all as a relief pitcher. Frederick is expected to see plenty of action out of the bullpen for the Big Orange this season.
Rhudy is also a newcomer to the Vols after spending the past two years at Kennesaw State, where he was one of the Owls' top contributors out of the bullpen as a freshman and a sophomore.
The Chickamauga, Georgia, native, appeared in 21 games and led the team with five saves in 2025 while posting a 2-0 record and a 3.16 ERA. As a true freshman in 2024, Rhudy earned All-ASUN first team honors and ASUN All-Freshman Team recognition after posting a 4-1 record with six saves.
The full NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watch List can be found by clicking HERE.
No. 3/14 Tennessee opens its 2026 season at the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium at 4:30 p.m. on Friday against Nicholls.
Single-game tickets for non-conference games can be purchased by clicking HERE. The Vols' full 2026 schedule can be found HERE.
2026 Preseason Honors (Sorted Alphabetically by Player)
Cam Appenzeller – LHP – Freshman – Chatham, Ill.Baseball America Preseason Freshman of the Year Watch List
Brandon Arvidson – LHP – RS-Junior – Dripping Springs, Texas
NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-SEC – 1st Team (Coaches)
Blaine Brown – OF/LHP – Sophomore – Houston, Texas
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (TWP)
Levi Clark – UTL – Sophomore – Marietta, Ga.
Preseason All-SEC – 2nd Team (Coaches)
Henry Ford – OF/INF – Junior – Charlottesville, Va.
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Baseball America Preseason Player of the Year Watch List
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 1st Team (1B)
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (DH)
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (OF)
Preseason All-SEC -- 1st Team (Coaches, Perfect Game)
Brady Frederick – RHP – Junior – Knoxville, Tenn.
NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (RP)
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Tegan Kuhns – RHP – Sophomore – Gettysburg, Pa.
Baseball America Preseason Pitcher of the Year Watch List
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (SP)
Bo Rhudy – RHP – Junior – Chickamauga, Ga.
NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
Garrett Wright– C/OF – Junior – Massillon, Ohio
NCBWA Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (C)
Players Mentioned
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