Tennessee Hosting UC Irvine LHP Ricky Ojeda on Visit

Image: UC Irvine Athletics

By Aidan Sidoti

KNOXVILLE – UC Irvine left-hander Ricky Ojeda is on campus for a visit with Tennessee after arriving in Knoxville on Monday and staying through Tuesday, VolQuest’s Mike Wilson first reported. The junior southpaw entered the NCAA transfer portal on June 3 and is also eligible for next month’s MLB Draft, where he ranks as the No. 259 prospect by Baseball America.

Ojeda turned in another strong season for the Anteaters in 2026, appearing in 18 games with 7 starts while posting a 3-3 record and a 3.77 ERA. He struck out 62 batters to just 20 walks across 62 innings, while also winning Big West Pitcher of the Year in 2025.

Across three seasons with the Anteaters, Ojeda has been one of the most reliable arms in the Big West. He owns a 22-5 overall record in three years with a 3.60 ERA in 72 appearances, striking out 219 hitters and issuing only 74 walks over 180 innings.

Tennessee has been aggressive in the portal early, and Ojeda’s visit adds another high‑end pitching option to the Vols’ board as Tennessee continues reshaping its roster for the 2027 season.