Tennessee is under a month away from the start of the 2024 campaign.

Head coach Tony Vitello and select players met with the media on Thursday to preview the season and bring a clearer picture of what to expect.

Here are the key takeaways from what was said.

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Following the MLB draft, it was announced that Zane Denton intended to return for one final season after playing a critical role for the Vols in 2023.

However, Denton has not been with the team so far this off-season and it is not clear he will be on the field to begin the regular season, either.

Right now, Vitello doesn't have an answer on if Denton will play this year or not. However, he did make sure to note nothing crazy is going on and he is in a good place.

"I don't really have any expectations because I don't have complete answers," said Vitello. "The one thing, I don't know if it's possible to tie a bow on any topic, like shortstop or Zane, but there's nothing crazy going on. And I don't think you will be provided with an 'ah ha' moment like this is a straight conclusion. It's not that easy. There are a lot of factors to it. I just visited with him recently. We hang out. He's in a good place. We're in a good place just trying to figure out what he's going do with his future."

Vitello also noted Denton's clutch home run against Clemson in the NCAA Tournament to put Tennessee in position to move on to the Super Regional stage. He continued to say that Denton would add to this legacy in one way or another.

"Really you can't take away from that moment in time he had against Clemson, but really just his whole time here and his college career to this point," said Vitello. "He's going to add on to that story that you can't erase. It's just a matter of how he's going to add on to it. He came here last year with a plan of getting to Omaha, which he did and was a major factor. And the other part of that plan was getting his opportunity in pro baseball and for whatever reason it just didn't work out. And when your plans get derailed a little bit, you sit back and you assess how do you want to move forward, which again, he's doing in the classroom and as a person, and certainly like I said we hang out and talk so we'll figure out what's best. But, that that'll come when the time is right. Like I said, it's not as easy as just going this way or going that way. There's other factors like classes and things involved."

If anyone knows the level of pitching Tennessee has on its roster its a batter who has faced them throughout the off-season. One of these hitters who will be cemented in the middle of the Vols' lineup is Blake Burke.

The junior first baseman noted multiple newcomers who have wowed him so far.

"They're not scared," said Burke. "They believe in themselves. They have good arms, talented arms. Marcus (Philips), he's nasty. (Derek) Schaefer, like you said, really good. There's some guys I'm missing. (Brayden) Sharp is pretty good, he has a good arm. I know I'm missing more but they're not scared. They come to work and they work hard and that's all you can ask for."

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Vitello noted Phillips as one of the standouts despite not technically being a freshman. While at JuCo, he barely saw action before transferring to Tennessee.

Phillips is capable of effecting the game on the mound and at the plate. The plan is to start him as a pitcher but at bats could still be on the table, as well.

"I'm glad I don't have to face him as a hitter," said Vitello. "So, it is good stuff, big stuff, if you will, that he brings to the table on the mound. And then at the plate, it's been common speak in the coaches' locker room that he looks better than he ever has in the batting cages right now at the plate. So that opportunity is not going away. As it is for most hitters, sometimes you've got to pile up reps. I think that's something a little more down the road for him. Immediately, he will make an impact on the mound, just don't know when."

Throughout a baseball season, many things can change. Last year, the Vols got off to a rocky start before correcting ship and finishing in the College World Series.

However, it can be expected that Tennessee gets off to a better start this time around. This is due to a 'good starting point' on and off the field.

"Overall, I think just a good feeling that the guys did their work," said Vitello. "You're not around them and then you're almost only a month from the season and you're not able to work with them. So there's all these question marks over your head. What do we actually got? What we got is where we left off in the fall, if not a little bit better for position players, too. For all the guys, I think we're at a good starting point. We're gonna need to make a lot of progress prior to being ready for Dallas."

This good start makes it an easier transition into the season.

"The build up to this point so far has been, it's been great and I shouldn't say that, but I'm just being honest," said Vitello. "I think the kind of Rubik's cube for this team will not be how do we kind of come together as a group and start kind of all pulling in the same direction or whatever it might be. It'd be more just, what's the right recipe, who belongs where and are guys willing to put their personal wants and their ego aside a little bit to fulfill this role."

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