KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee baseball team’s 2009 recruiting class ranks among the nation’s best according to Baseball America which listed the Volunteer crop at No. 15 in its annual recruiting ratings released Tuesday afternoon.

“This ranking shows that we are on track to get our program back to the level we want it to be at,” UT Head Coach Todd Raleigh said. “We’ve added a lot of talent and depth to our roster with this class and I’ve been very pleased with the effort and work ethic they’ve shown in fall practice so far. They have helped to create an even more competitive atmosphere in our practices which will only help us be a much better team this spring. We already have a solid core of returners, but the newcomers have helped fill some holes and made us a more balanced team overall.

“Recruiting is the lifeline of any program and I’m pleased that our recruiting efforts have been recognized,” Raleigh said. “There has been a tremendous amount of time and effort that has gone into this recruiting class. I want to thank our entire staff for their efforts and specifically recognize Bradley LeCroy who is a tireless recruiter and one of the best at what he does in the country.”

Tennessee was one of six Southeastern Conference teams listed in the top-25, finishing ahead of No. 15 Kentucky and following top-rated Florida, No. 8 Mississippi State, No. 12 Ole Miss and 13th-ranked Vanderbilt.

Raleigh and his staff welcomed 13 newcomers to Rocky Top last month, including eight freshmen, one transfer and four junior college players. Highlighting this year's group of newcomers are four freshman who were drafted in June, including right-handed pitcher Jon Reed from Tulsa, Okla., a 21st round selection by the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox 29th round pick, first baseman Cody Stubbs from Waynesville, N.C. Native Tennesseans and right-handed pitchers Alan Walden from Chattanooga and Andy Hillis from Brentwood were also drafted by the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd and 49th rounds, respectively.

Highly regarded freshman outfielder Drew Steckenrider from Lawrenceville, Ga., and infielder Matt Duffy, a transfer from the University of Vermont will also be looked upon to play large roles for UT this season. Steckenrider, a 2008 AFLAC All-American, was ranked as the No. 19 overall prospect in the nation by PGCrosschecker.com, while Duffy was the 2009 America East Player of the Year and an honorable mention selection to the All Ping! Baseball National All-America Team after hitting .388 with 13 home runs and 57 RBIs for the Catamounts in the program's final season before being discontinued.

Other freshmen joining the team include 6-6 right-hander Nicholas Blount from Loganville, Ga., Christopher Fritts, an outfield from Houston, Texas, and the top pitching prospect from the state of Michigan, Michael Theodore from Bloomfield Hills.

Joining the Volunteers from the junior college ranks will be 6-5 right-hander Spencer Clifft from Manatee (Fla.) Community College and Young Harris (Ga.) College catcher Adam King, as well as infielders Khayyan Norfork and Tyler Hannah from Jackson State Community College and Wallace State-Haynesville (Ala.), respectively. Norfork picked up honorable mention All-America accolades from the National Junior College Athletic Association and was named to the 2009 Tennessee Junior and Community College Athletic Association First Team, while Hannah also earned first-team honors from the Alabama Community College Conference.

The newcomers join a group of 21 returning players from the 2008 season, led by juniors Bryan Morgado, Blake Forsythe and Cody Hawn. One of just three college players drafted in the first three rounds to return to school, Morgado is expected to lead the Vol pitching staff, while Hawn and Forsythe are set to carry the load offensively. This past season, Hawn became just the 10th Vol to ever win the team Triple Crown, leading the team in batting average (.364), home runs (22), RBIs (81), hits (72), doubles (15) and slugging percentage (.773). Forsythe, meanwhile, spent his summer honing his skills with the USA Collegiate Baseball National Team after hitting .347 with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs during his sophomore season.

TIMES SET FOR ORANGE AND WHITE WORLD SERIES GAMES THIS WEEKEND

The Orange and White World Series will resume this weekend with games at Noon on Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Led by first-year pitching coach Jason Beverlin, the Orange squad will look to clinch the series victory, as it holds a 3-0 advantage over infield coach Bradley LeCroy’s squad. The seventh and final game of the World Series will take place on Friday, Oct. 30.