Tennessee baseball announced a verbal commitment from UC Irvine right‑hander Ricky Ojeda on June 19, adding a proven reliever to the Volunteers' roster just weeks before the MLB draft.
Ojeda emerged as one of the nation's most reliable late‑inning arms in 2026, posting a 3.77 earned‑run average over 62 innings while striking out 62 batters and walking only 20. His performance earned him Big West Pitcher of the Year honors in 2025 and a third‑team All‑American selection.
Draft prospects and rankings
Perfect Game’s draft board ranks Ojeda as the 179th overall prospect, projecting him as a sixth‑round selection in July’s draft.
The Volunteers' bullpen struggled in the 2026 season, and the arrival of Ojeda arrives under new pitching direction. Coach Austin Knight, previously an assistant at ECU, has been tasked with reshaping the relief corps, and Ojeda is expected to be among the top options.
Ojeda becomes the fourth player to announce a transfer to Tennessee this offseason, joining a growing list of newcomers aiming to revitalize the program.