Cannon Peebles Headed to Rocky Top Tennessee
By: James Middleton | West Chester University
The Cape League is a place for athletes to improve their draft stock in front of scouts and to get their name out there in the prospect world. In other cases, players could be in the transfer portal looking for a new school to play at. This was the case for Cotuit backstop Cannon Peebles (Tennessee), as he was in the transfer portal before his arrival on the Cape and recently committed to Coach Tony Vitello’s Volunteers.
“I visited with the Coach, and I absolutely love them, but watching those guys play it’s really fun to watch. They play the game the right way and go about their business the right way. That’s something I want to be a part of,” said Peebles on why he chose Tennessee.
The switch-hitter just finished his season at NC State before joining the Ketts this summer. For the wolfpack, he slashed for a line of .352/.697/.456 in his first year, leading the team in all three categories as a freshman. Peebles saw most of his action come in the designated hitter spot, where he earned an NCBWA First-Team freshman All-American nod. He also was selected to the ACC All-Freshman team.
“I didn’t have a fall season to try and prepare for my freshman season. During the season, I just tried to trust myself, and then I ended up having a good season. That’s just how it goes, and it comes with confidence and preparation,” Peebles said on his year at NC State.
Peebles has appeared in eleven games for the Kettleers so far this season. He is hitting for a .233 batting average, notching seven hits and five RBIs. The catcher has also drawn seven free passes so far this season, bringing his on-base percentage up to .366.
“It’s a hard league, but you just gotta do what you have to do to play every day. Like I say, the cream rises to the top,” said Peebles.
Peebles will join a loaded Tennessee roster in the fall, joining his Cotuit teammates Zachary Joyce and Bryce Jenkins in Knoxville. Last year, the Volunteers had a 44-22 record which was good enough for a regional appearance. The Volunteers were the underdog and upset the host, Clemson, in fourteen innings to go on and win the regional. Next was Southern Mississippi in the supers, taking care of them in three games and clinching a spot in the College World Series. They fell short in Omaha as they would play the eventual national champions LSU twice, with the second game knocking them out of the world series.
“Just having fun, those guys go about their business, and they go out there and have a ton of fun,” said Peebles on what he is most excited for.