Clay Edmondson made a commitment to play college baseball at Tennessee on Thursday afternoon, even though he is currently in the midst of the regular season with a different team.
The redshirt junior decided on his new school while still enrolled and playing for his current program, which is exactly how the situation unfolded. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-handed submarine pitcher had a challenging sophomore season with a 5.50 ERA over 72 innings for the Bulldogs, though he struck out 68 batters and finished with a 5-3 record. Unfortunately, his 2024 season was cut short by an injury.
Now, as a redshirt junior, Edmondson holds a 5-1 record with a 2.01 ERA through 10 starts this season. He has been pitching deep into games, with 65 strikeouts over 62.2 innings so far.
Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, Edmondson started his college career at Guilford Technical Community College in 2022. He excelled at the JUCO level as a freshman, which led to his transfer to UNC Asheville.
His impressive numbers made him an attractive option in the transfer portal, and Tennessee was able to secure his commitment.
It will be intriguing to see how Tennessee utilizes Edmondson. He could slot into the starting rotation as a back-end weekend guy or transition to the bullpen, depending on how his season plays out before moving to Knoxville.
The timing is certainly unusual.
Tennessee is currently in the midst of SEC play, with the NCAA Tournament approaching at the end of next month. Head coach Tony Vitello likely prefers to focus on the current season but must simultaneously build his roster for the upcoming year. I understand the situation!
On the other hand, Edmondson needs to make a decision now, as his future options may diminish as roster spots fill up. As a graduate transfer, he knows he will be leaving after this season, whether he joins the Volunteers or pursues a pro career. It’s understandable!
Still, the timing feels awkward.
Edmondson is UNC Asheville’s Friday night ace, and the Bulldogs are practicing during the week. Their top pitcher had to step away to visit his future school while in the transfer portal. He had to announce his decision for next season with more than 10 games remaining in the season.
I’m sure his teammates and coaches are happy for him, but it’s still an unusual situation. While not the first time this has happened, it’s a reminder of how strange the system can be.
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