KNOXVILLE — For over a decade, Tennessee’s baseball team was an SEC doormat. Whether it was Todd Raleigh or Dave Serrano as head coach, the Vols couldn’t compete in the sport’s toughest conference.

But the Vols’ fortunes changed when Arkansas assistant Tony Vitello was hired as Serrano’s replacement in June 2017.

Now in his 6th year, Vitello has turned UT into one of the top baseball programs in the nation. The Vols reached the College World Series in 2021, then followed with one of the most dominant regular seasons in league history in 2022. They Vols stayed No. 1 for most of the the season. They won 57 games, plus the SEC’s regular season and tournament titles before being upset by Notre Dame in the Super Regionals.

The Vols were an offensive juggernaut, leading the SEC in home runs (158), batting average (.308), RBIs (574) and more. Critics scoffed at the cozy confines of Lindsey Nelson Stadium, but Vols pitchers didn’t seem to mind. They dominated, too, leading the SEC in strikeouts (695) and ERA (2.51). They limited opponents to a league-low .199 batting average and gave up 8 fewer home runs than CWS champ Ole Miss.

This year, the Vols are turning over the everyday lineup and turning the page, hoping the next chapter is just as fruitful. The journey to Omaha starts Friday, Feb. 17.

Baseball America certainly believes it’s possible. BA ranked the Vols No. 2 to open the season. Once again, UT is expected to compete for SEC and national championships. This time, they’ll lean even more heavily on a dominant pitching staff.

Chase Dollander, Chase Burns and Drew Beam make up the best 1-2-3 rotation in the country. In 2022, they went a combined 26-3 with 273 strikeouts while giving up only 59 walks.

Dollander, a junior, returns as reigning SEC pitcher of the year. He posted a 2.39 ERA and held hitters to a punchless .175 batting average. He is a preseason first-team All-American and in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft.

Burns was National Freshman of the Year in 2022 with an ERA of 2.91. For most of the 2022 season he got the ball on Friday nights. Beam was a unanimous Freshman All-American and had an ERA of 2.72.

The Vols look to be in terrific shape in terms of starters. Obviously, they aren’t going 9 innings very often, but Tennessee has a solid set of arms to close out ball games — even if the closer can’t match Ben Joyce’s triple-digit heat from 2022.

Camden Sewell had an extra year of eligibility due to the shortened 2020 COVID season and decided to return to Rocky Top. He appeared in 26 games a year ago with a 2.52 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 50 innings. Sewell is likely the Vols’ most important option outside the starting rotation.

Tennessee can also call on Missouri transfer Seth Halvorsen. He missed all the 2022 season with a broken arm. Lefty Kirby Connell had a 1.66 ERA over 38 innings a year ago. Zander Seachrist got the ball 11 times as UT’s starter in midweek games and had an impressive 46:7 strikeout to walk ratio. Andrew Lindsay and Zach Joyce — Ben’s twin who stepped away from baseball but has rejoined the program — haven’t pitched very much in recent years, but each will be available to get some innings. Zach Joyce reportedly was throwing in the mid-90s upon rejoining the program last June.

Vitello doesn’t look to have many worries when it comes to pitching.

The batting lineup? That is a work in progress. He certainly has a ton of talent capable to putting up big numbers, but it’ll be tough to match the productivity of the 2022 hitters.

Led by Trey Lipscomb’s 22 home runs, the Vols said goodbye to 7 players who hit at least 11 home runs in 2022. Six position players were drafted, including the entire starting outfield (Drew Gilbert, Jordan Beck and Seth Stephenson).

The 2023 Vols probably won’t reach those power numbers. But that doesn’t mean they’ll have to scratch and claw for runs every night, either.

Cincinnati transfer Griffin Merritt should get one of those starting outfield spots. He hit .315 while starting 51 games for the Bearcats, leading the AAC with 19 home runs.

Kyle Booker had a very good freshman season, batting .310 in 27 games in 2021. But he battled injuries in a disappointing 2022 season. If healthy he likely gets a starting spot in the outfield.

Christian Scott is still trying to get into the lineup every day. Scott played in 51 games a year ago, but started only 11, seeing time as a pinch-hitter, pinch-runner, or defensive replacement.

Incoming freshmen Reese Chapman and Dylan Dreiling should get playing time as well. Jared Dickey will likely split time between catcher and the outfield. Dickey hit .380 last season, and Vitello has to find ways to get him on the field.

The infield will see some familiar faces despite the departures of fan favorites Evan Russell, Lipscomb, and Luc Lipcius.

Catcher will be a battle between Charlie Taylor, JUCO transfer Cal Stark and Ryan Miller. Taylor was Russell’s backup a year ago.

Up the middle, Kansas transfer Maui Ahuna is one of the most important players on this team. He hit .396 and was first team All-Big 12 a year ago. He will play shortstop, replacing Cortland Lawson. With Jorel Ortega now in the minor leagues, Christian Moore will start at second base. Moore hit .305 as a true freshman and played in 51 games a year ago.

Logan Steenstra and Austen Jaslove provide depth at those positions.

At the corners, Tennessee gets a reverse Henry To’o To’o as Alabama third baseman Zane Denton looks to take over for Lipscomb. Denton, a Brentwood, Tenn., native, was a 2-year starter for the Crimson Tide. He had 13 home runs last season.

At first base, Blake Burke will be the guy. Burke had 14 home runs in only 95 at-bats as a freshman in 2022.

Vitello has once again assembled a talented roster. It would not be a surprise to see this team finish the 2023 season in Omaha.