(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Tennessee’s Ariel Antigua Earns All-Appalachian League Honors After Record-Breaking Summer
BURLINGTON, N.C. – Tennessee Volunteers infielder Ariel Antigua capped off a remarkable summer by being named to the All-Appalachian League Team, thanks to his standout performances with the Burlington Sock Puppets.
The talented middle infielder posted an incredible .442 batting average and a 1.079 OPS in 77 at-bats, collecting six doubles, 19 RBIs, and 20 runs scored. Even more impressively, Antigua struck out just seven times all summer, showing elite plate discipline.
Making Appalachian League History
Antigua’s biggest highlight came on June 26, when Burlington faced the Pulaski River Turtles. The Tennessee star made history by recording six hits in a single game—the most ever by any player in Appalachian League summer history—leading the Sock Puppets to an 11–5 victory.
“‼️ History made in the #AppyLeague ‼️” the league posted on social media after his record-setting night.
Helping Burlington to the Top
With Antigua’s consistent hitting and strong defensive play, Burlington finished the season with a 29-17 record, the best in the East Division of the Appalachian League.
Antigua’s Career at Tennessee
Antigua has played two seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers, winning a national championship in 2024. In his college career so far, he has logged 96 at-bats with 15 RBIs.
His best offensive game of the 2025 season came on March 22 against Alabama, when he collected three hits, scored twice, and added an RBI.
Defensively, Antigua has been a key infield option off the bench for head coach Tony Vitello. One of his standout defensive performances came on March 30 against South Carolina, when he recorded seven assists and three putouts.
Volunteers’ 2025 Season Recap
Tennessee finished 2025 with a 46-19 overall record and a 16-14 mark in SEC play. The Vols hosted an NCAA Regional as the No. 14 national seed and reached the Fayetteville Super Regional before falling to Arkansas.
Despite the loss, Tennessee became the only program in college baseball history to reach five straight super regionals, solidifying their place among the sport’s elite programs.
