2026 Tennessee baseball preview: Jay Abernathy

Jay Abernathy preview ahead of the 2026 Tennessee baseball season.

Jay Abernathy enters his second season at Tennessee in 2026. The 5-foot-10, 177-pound infielder and outfielder appeared in 53 games, including 27 starts, for the Vols as a freshman in 2025.

The left-handed Abernathy recorded a .282 batting average, .340 slugging percentage, .409 on-base percentage, 29 hits, three doubles, one home run, 11 RBIs, 22 walks and eight stolen bases in 103 at-bats. He also struck out 21 times and grounded into four double plays.

Defensively, Abernathy totaled a .957 fielding percentage, 39 putouts, six assists and two errors.

He is from North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia. Abernathy committed to Tennessee over Georgia Tech and South Alabama.

Jay Abernathy career game highs

Jay Abernathy

  • Runs scored: Five
  • Hits: Three
  • Home runs: One
  • Total bases: Four
  • RBIs: Two
  • Walks: Four
  • Stolen bases: Four
  • At-bats: Five
  • Putouts: Three
  • Assists: One

2026 Tennessee baseball season

The 2026 baseball season will be the first for Tennessee under head coach Josh Elander. He was Tennessee's associate head coach and recruiting coordinator from 2022-25, while serving as the Vols' assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2018-22.

Tennessee will open its baseball season Feb. 13 versus Nicholls State for a three-game nonconference series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch for the Vols’ season opener is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. EST.

Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Jay Abernathy preview ahead of 2026 Tennessee baseball season

Category: General Sports