Ricky Ojeda, a left‑handed pitcher who spent three seasons at UC Irvine, has officially pledged to join the Tennessee Volunteers baseball program for the 2027 campaign, turning down early professional overtures to remain in college.
A Record of Excellence
During his collegiate career Ojeda amassed a 22‑5 record, a 3.60 earned run average and 219 strikeouts across 46 appearances, while earning Freshman All‑American honors in 2024 and All‑American status in 2025. He posted a 3.77 ERA in 18 games this past season and was recognized as Big West Pitcher of the Year after a 3.86 ERA in Big West play.
His international résumé includes a stint with the U.S. Collegiate National Team, where he limited opponents to a single run over 6.2 innings, and he was named a Preseason All‑American heading into the next season.
Future Prospects
While professional scouts have expressed interest, Ojeda indicated that developing his craft in Knoxville remains his priority, with the aim of contributing to a Vols team poised to contend for national honors.