The 2026 Tennessee high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Tennessee.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Murfreesboro at the state tournament championships – but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Tennessee. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 25 rankings.

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

Please note that all Team Previews were submitted by High School Coaches.

High School: Knoxville Central Bobcats
Head Coach: Brandon Roberts
TSSAA Classification: 4A
District: 3
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 18-16

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

+ Top Returning Position Players:

• Nick Riordan
• Jackson Goode
• Drew Shaver
• Kaylin Chesney
• Alex Grossman
• Austin Duncan

+ Top Returning Pitchers:

• Jake Owen
• Andrew Bivens
  

More Names to Know

2026s:

• Waylon Perry

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

• Dominic Hinton
• Gehrig Rivera
• Robinson Book
• Cortland Golden

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2026 OUTLOOK

+ Knoxville Central heads into the 2026 season looking to build off an 18–16 campaign that featured steady growth and valuable varsity experience across the roster. Under head coach Brandon Roberts, the Bobcats return a solid group of position players who logged meaningful at-bats last spring, giving the program a reliable foundation as it looks to take another step forward in District 3.

Offensively, the strength of the Bobcats lies in their depth and balance throughout the lineup. Nick Riordan and Jackson Goode provide experienced bats that can set the tone early, offering consistency and the ability to grind out quality plate appearances. Both have shown the ability to compete against varsity pitching and should again be counted on to generate traffic on the bases.

Drew Shaver and Kaylin Chesney add versatility and athleticism to the middle of the order. Each brings the ability to impact the game in multiple ways, whether it’s driving in runs, applying pressure on the bases, or providing defensive reliability. Their presence allows the Bobcats to mix and match lineups while maintaining competitive at-bats throughout the order.

Alex Grossman and Austin Duncan round out a returning core that gives Knoxville Central stability on both sides of the ball. Their experience and familiarity with varsity competition provide valuable continuity, particularly for a team aiming to tighten execution in close games and turn narrow losses into wins.

On the mound, the Bobcats will lean on Jake Owen and Andrew Bivens as primary arms. Both return with varsity innings under their belt and project to handle important roles within the pitching staff. Their ability to consistently throw strikes and work through lineups will be key as Knoxville Central looks to establish more consistency on the bump and limit big innings.

Additional depth continues to develop behind the core group. Waylon Perry headlines the 2026 class as a name to follow, with the opportunity to push for increased playing time as the season progresses. His development could add another layer of flexibility to both the lineup and the pitching staff.

The next wave of Bobcats talent brings intrigue and long-term upside. Dominic Hinton and Gehrig Rivera are underclassmen who could factor into varsity roles sooner rather than later, while Robinson Book and Cortland Golden provide additional athleticism and competition within the roster. How quickly that group adjusts to the varsity level will play a role in the Bobcats’ overall depth.

With a lineup built around returning experience, a pair of dependable arms, and a growing group of young contributors, Knoxville Central enters the 2026 season with a clear path for improvement. If the Bobcats can continue to develop pitching depth and get consistent offensive production throughout the order, they have the pieces in place to compete night in and night out in District 3.

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Find more information on Knoxville Central High School’s 2026 season below:

+ Follow them on X: @KnoxCHS_BSBL
+ Find more 2026 team previews on our TSSAA Season Preview page

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