Cash Williams, a catcher who spent his freshman year on the Tennessee Volunteers without seeing game action, has now entered the transfer portal, becoming the eighth Vol to do so since the season concluded.
Williams joins a growing list of players from the 2025 recruiting class who have opted to explore new opportunities, a trend that reflects both the competitive depth at catcher and the desire for more playing time.
Though he was not a regular starter, Williams was a constant presence in the bullpen, serving as a catcher while redshirting to preserve his four years of eligibility.
His ranking as the No. 113 overall prospect and the tenth‑best catcher in the 2025 class, as recognized by Prep Baseball Report, underscores the high expectations that surrounded his arrival.
A cascade of portal entries
The Volunteers’ catcher position was crowded with talent, including Stone Lawless, Garrett Wright, Levi Clark and Trent Grindlinger, all of whom saw substantial playing time.
Lawless, now a redshirt junior, logged 34 starts in 2026, batting .234 with seven home runs, while Clark, a rising junior, posted a .242 average with 13 homers and 44 RBI, splitting duties between catcher and first base.
Grindlinger, who emerged as a freshman with a .345 average, eight homers and 29 RBIs, also saw time at designated hitter, further crowding the catching position.
Implications for Tennessee’s catching corps
Despite the departures, Tennessee can still count on returning production, with Lawless, Clark and Grindlinger all retaining eligibility and having demonstrated the ability to contribute both offensively and defensively.
Garrett Wright, projected to be selected in July’s MLB draft, adds another layer of uncertainty to the Volunteers’ catching outlook.
Draft prospects and future outlook
Sean Dunlap, another prospect who has committed to the Volunteers, was recently ranked No. 55 overall by ESPN in the MLB draft, indicating that the program continues to attract top talent.
The broader movement of players into the transfer portal underscores how college baseball rosters are being reshaped, with Tennessee joining a wave of programs experiencing multiple departures in a single offseason.