16 newcomers complete first week : govolsxtra.com

They are from as far away as New York state and as close as across town. Eleven are freshmen. Four were previously drafted by major league baseball teams.

In all, Tennessee’s baseball newcomers number 16 and Vols coach Todd Raleigh already has high hopes.

“It’s a group loaded with gritty, tough athletic guys who play the game the right way,’’ he said. “These guys are physical and they’re already busting their butts in the weight room. There are a number of guys who are going to help us right away, no doubt.”

Along with the true freshmen, the other prevailing characteristic about the class is that seven are from the state of Tennessee. Three are from Knoxville: Bearden High pitcher Hunter Daniel, Farragut pitcher/catcher Matt Ramsey and Walters State infielder Cody Hawn, who played at South-Doyle.

Hawn and Ramsey were previously drafted, as was junior college pitcher/designated hitter Stephen McCray and junior college pitcher Aaron Tullo.

Three of the newcomers are from Georgia. There’s one each from Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and New York.

The Vols will have an open tryout for potential walk-on players Sept. 22-23 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Students interested in participating must be NCAA qualifiers who are registered for at least 12 credit hours in the fall semester. They also must have had a physical within six months of the tryout.

Name Cl. Pos. B-T Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School

Adam Adkins Fr. LHP L-L 6-1 185 Goodlettsville, Tenn./Goodpasture

Josh Allman Fr. LHP L-L 5-11 175 Bryson City, N.C./Swain County

Hunter Daniel Fr. LHP L-L 6-3 195 Knoxville/Bearden

Mason Forbis Fr. RHP R-R 5-11 200 Hendersonville, Tenn./Beech

Clayton Gant Fr. RHP R-R 5-11 170 Parsons, Tenn./USJ

Steven Gruver Fr. LHP L-L 6-1 200 Canfield, Ohio/Austintown Fitch

Cody Hawn So. INF L-R 5-11 202 Knoxville/Walters State (Tenn.) CC

Tyler Horne Jr. 3B R-R 6-2 200 Newnan, Ga./Shelton State (Ala.) CC

Michael Hornsby Jr. INF L-R 5-11 182 Carrollton, Ga./Young Harris (Ga.) College

Will Locante Fr. LHP L-L 5-10 170 Memphis/Briarcrest Christian School

Stephen McCray Jr. RHP/DH L-R 6-2 237 Lilburn, Ga./Young Harris (Ga.) College

Zach Osborne Fr. INF R-R 5-7 165 Louisville, Ky./Pleasure Ridge Park

Matt Ramsey Fr. RHP/C R-R 5-10 190 Knoxville/Farragut

Charley Thurber Fr. OF L-L 6-4 217 Elmira, N.Y./Elmira Free Academy

Aaron Tullo Jr. RHP R-R 6-2 207 St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg College

Gary Wilson Fr. SS R-R 6-0 211 Marlton, N.J./Cherokee