Tennessee baseball is back after a three-year run establishing the Vols as one of the nation's best programs under coach Tony Vitello.

UT has been to the College World Series twice in the past three seasons, while it won 57 games in 2022. The No. 8 Vols open the season Feb. 16-18 in the Shriners Children's Showdown in Arlington, Texas.

Here is what to know about the Vols:

Drew Beam is the mainstay for the Vols pitchers, but who else will start?

Tennessee is replacing a lot of pitching production, but has Drew Beam to build its new staff around. The junior is one of the top returning starters in the nation after going 9-4 with a 3.63 ERA in 2023. He will be joined in the rotation by sophomore A.J. Russell, who was dominant as a reliever as a freshman. Russell was 2-0 with a 0.89 ERA in 30⅓ innings with 47 strikeouts.

Tennessee could go a few different directions with the third weekend spot. Senior Zander Sechrist is the returning option. He is 6-1 with 1.95 ERA in 48 career appearances with 23 starts as a midweek starter. Big-armed Wichita State transfer Nate Snead (1-2, 3.16 ERA), submarining Jacksonville State transfer A.J. Causey (5-4, 5.07 ERA), and freshman Derek Schaefer are leading candidates. Schaefer throws hard with strong offspeed offerings.

Freshman Matthew Dallas didn't pitch in the fall but has been impressive in the spring. Getting the 6-foot-5 lefty to campus and away from the MLB Draft was a big win. He could get midweek starts.

Tennessee baseball's backbone is the infield

The infield is the most proven and the obvious strength of the Vols entering the season. First baseman Blake Burke and middle infielder Christian Moore are mainstays, who will form the middle of the lineup along with third baseman Billy Amick who transferred from Clemson.

Burke (.280, 16 home runs, 43 RBIs) is 10 homers shy of Luc Lipcius' program career record. Moore (.304, 17 homers, 50 RBIs) could start at either second base or shortstop. Amick was one of the most coveted transfers before picking UT. He was an All-ACC selection after hitting with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs in 46 games.

Shortstop is one of the most interesting spots on the roster. Moore could claim it, but a group of newcomers is in the mix. Freshmen Ariel Antigua, who is dealing with a hand injury, and Dean Curley will have a say. Junior-college addition Alex Perry is a candidate, while another juco signee Bradke Lohry could play second or short.

Cannon Peebles was the biggest portal win for Tennessee baseball

Tennessee needed to bolster the catcher position in the offseason and it did the job perfectly. UT landed Cannon Peebles, one of the elite portal additions nationally. The switch-hitting Peebles hit .352 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs in 39 games at North Carolina State, then backed it up with a stellar fall at UT. Missouri transfer Dalton Bargo (.279, five homers, 23 RBIs) also can catch so his addition boosted the position.

Cal Stark (.180, five homers, 17 RBIs) will likely get playing time still as the returning starter. Charlie Taylor (.232, three homers, 13 RBIs) also is back. Freshman Stone Lawless is as good a catcher as UT has signed under Vitello.

Tennessee's outfield has a lot of possibilities

Tennessee's outfield is unproven, exciting and crowded. Senior Hunter Ensley (.280, seven HR, 31 RBIs) emerged in centerfield and returns as a starter. Sophomore Dylan Dreiling (.295, seven homers, 20 RBIs) and redshirt sophomore Kavares Tears (.304, two homers, 11 RBIs) are the likely starters in left field and right field, respectively. Dreiling was solid in reserve duty as a freshman, while Tears hits the ball with force and has a huge throwing arm.

ADAMS: Tennessee baseball outfielder Kavares Tears has downsized. His home runs haven't. | Adams

Bargo is a potential outfield piece as a corner option. He is as versatile as any player on the roster. Sophomore Reese Chapman (.263, two homers, seven RBIs) has worlds of potential and a powerful left-handed swing. A wild card is junior-college addition Robin Villeneuve. He is a first baseman by trade, but that spot is claimed. He can flat out hit, which he showed by hitting .401 with 28 homers and 102 RBIs at Weatherford College in Texas. Colby Backus redshirt last season after coming from juco, while freshman Brayden Sharp is a potential future two-way star.

Familiar faces and a big-time newcomer highlight the bullpen

Tennessee has righty Aaron Combs (4-0, 3.00 ERA) and lefty Kirby Connell (1-0, 3.52 ERA) back. Combs was a clutch postseason arm, while Connell has been a reliable out-getter for four years. He has a 2.76 ERA in 93 career appearances in 101.0 innings.

Marcus Phillips is a hard-throwing right-hander from junior college in South Dakota. He is a 6-foot-4, 245-pound presence that has consistently drawn praise from his teammates − the hitters and pitchers.

Cal transfer Chris Stamos (3.30, 5.82 ERA) is an experienced arm. Lefties Andrew Behnke and Wyatt Evans (2.25 ERA in 2022) will be counted on. Redshirt freshman Hunter Sloop is a right-handed option. UT signed a lot of freshmen, including Pigeon Force graduate Dylan Loy, a two-time Gatorade Tennessee Baseball Player of the Year.

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: What to know about Tony Vitello, Tennessee baseball opening 2024 season