Tennessee baseball added first baseman Alberto Osuna, a transfer from North Carolina and Tampa, for the 2025 season, but he has yet to take the field for the Vols.

This is due to the NCAA denying Osuna an extra year of eligibility. He appealed the decision, citing the case of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who was granted an additional year. Despite similar circumstances, Osuna’s request was rejected, highlighting inconsistencies in the NCAA’s rulings. Tennessee coaches, players, and fans continue to demand answers from the NCAA, which has yet to provide clarity.

Osuna posted a letter on social media that he had sent to the NCAA seeking justification for their decision. In the letter, he outlined his path to Tennessee, his interactions with the NCAA, and raised several questions about their reasoning in denying him the chance to play his final season.

Former Tennessee outfielder Jared Dickey voiced his frustration on social media, stating, “As a former Tennessee baseball player, I’m beyond frustrated by the NCAA’s inconsistency. Diego Pavia gets a waiver, but Alberto Osuna doesn’t? Same situation, different rulings. The system is broken, and Berto deserves to play. Fix it.”

Dickey, along with several current and former Tennessee players, has spoken out about the NCAA’s decision.

Players including Blake Burke, Ben Joyce, Andrew Fischer, Tate Strickland, Arnold Abernathy, and assistant coach Ross Kivet have all publicly supported Osuna, sharing their thoughts on social media.

Head coach Tony Vitello also addressed the situation with Knoxville media, making Osuna’s eligibility a key topic in post-game discussions. Vitello urged for public support, emphasizing that public opinion could play a crucial role in overturning the NCAA’s decision.

“Public opinion can sway you in a negative way or a positive way,” Vitello said. “And I just haven’t heard a lot of that noise. I saw an ESPN article, which that’s not local. And someone said Coach [Rick] Neuheisel had some comments. That’s not local. I just don’t know if anyone has talked to the kid.

“If you talk to the kid, people are going to realize, oh, at the very least, we’re losing another guy like Kirby [Connell] that could really be embedded in the program. And, ‘Oh, maybe the guy went to junior college because he comes from a modest income and is bilingual.’ There are some things there that are a good story.”

Osuna remains determined to fight for his eligibility, but the NCAA has not changed its stance. Meanwhile, the Vols prepare for a midweek game against West Georgia on Tuesday at 4:30 PM ET before starting their first SEC series of the season against Florida.