Tennessee Baseball Moves Garrett Wright Into Leadoff Spot

Bowling Green transfer reaches base often, sets up Tennessee's best hitter Henry Ford

Mar. 11, 2026 at 7:19pm

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Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander has moved Bowling Green transfer Garrett Wright into the leadoff spot ahead of the team's SEC opening series against Georgia. Wright, who has a knack for getting hit by pitches, has reached base often in his first six games and will now set the table for Tennessee's best hitter, Henry Ford.

Why it matters

Tennessee's offense has struggled early this season, so getting players who can consistently reach base at the top of the order is crucial. Wright's ability to get on base, either through hits or hit-by-pitches, will help set up RBI opportunities for Ford and the rest of the Vols' lineup.

The details

Wright returned from a hamate bone injury just last week but has been on a tear in his five games since making his season debut. He hit in the leadoff spot for the first time in Tennessee's 20-2 win over Tennessee Tech on Tuesday night and promptly hit the second pitch of the game into the left field porches. He reached base in his next two-bats via hit-by pitch, marking his fifth and sixth of the extremely young season. Through his first six games played this season, Wright is hitting seven-for-14 with two doubles and a home run. He's reached base six more times via hit-by pitch.

  • Wright made his season debut just last week after returning from a hamate bone injury.
  • Wright hit leadoff for the first time in Tennessee's 20-2 win over Tennessee Tech on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

Josh Elander

Tennessee baseball coach who moved Garrett Wright into the leadoff spot.

Garrett Wright

Bowling Green transfer who has been hitting leadoff for Tennessee and reaching base often via hits and hit-by-pitches.

Henry Ford

Tennessee's best hitter who will now bat behind Wright in the lineup.

Jay Abernathy

Sophomore with the traditional leadoff man skillset of speed, but Elander has opted for Wright at the top of the order.

Stone Lawless

Tennessee catcher who praised Wright's scrappy, reliable play at the plate.

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What they’re saying

“We just look at the numbers like we're trying to get in spots where Henry's got guys, or ducks on the pond in front of him. We joke about the hit by pitches, but the guy is a winning player. He does things that get on base, and then you got some guys that can leave the yard behind him stacked up. It seems to be a good little mix that we'll roll with for a minute.”

— Josh Elander, Tennessee Baseball Coach

“Just don't move. All it is. Just a warrior mentality. And kind of just go from there.”

— Garrett Wright

“He's just scrappy. For some reason he is a magnet so he continues to get hit. He'll get to two strikes and slap a ball for a double. He's just reliable. You feel like he's going to get on base. And obviously you have Henry and Blaine and all of us behind him. So it's just a good way to get things rolling.”

— Stone Lawless, Tennessee Catcher

What’s next

Tennessee will open its SEC schedule this weekend with a three-game series at Georgia.

The takeaway

By moving the scrappy, on-base machine Garrett Wright into the leadoff spot, Tennessee is hoping to jumpstart an offense that has struggled early this season. Wright's ability to get on base, whether through hits or hit-by-pitches, will set the table for the Vols' best hitter Henry Ford and the rest of the lineup.