The Tennessee baseball season gets underway Friday afternoon against Oregon State at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Here are the top three things to watch for over the next three months as the Todd Raleigh era enters year two.

1. Kentrail Davis: Did you really think I'd lead off with anything else? Last year, the Alabama native hit .330 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs, leading the team in each category. And he was only a freshman.

Davis has been named to the watch lists for the 2009 Preseason Golden Spikes Award and the 2009 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year, as well as being named to several preseason All-America teams.

This season will likely mark the last chance to see Davis play at the college level, despite his only being out of high school for two seasons. His birth date allows him to enter the MLB Draft without playing a third season.

2. The newcomers: In Raleigh's first season he was left with a roster mainly put together by the former coaching staff. This season's team will feature many more players brought in by Raleigh and his staff.

Raleigh said the 2009 Vols will have a lot of freshman and will be a more physical group than last year's team during Thursday night's Baseball Leadoff Banquet. He also promised UT would be "better at every position on the field."

The infield will have a much different look this year, as three newcomers are expected to start the season opener: first baseman Cody Hawn, third baseman Tyler Horne and shortstop Zach Osborne. Fellow newcomer Stephen McCray is scheduled to get the first shot as the team's Sunday starter.

3. The bullpen: The 2008 Vols were off to a solid start, amassing a 9-6 record to open conference play. Then the wheels came off. The team didn't win another series and dropped 11 of its final 14 SEC games.

A large part of the collapse was bullpen trouble. Workhorse reliever Aaron Everett went down with an injury and the pitching staff never really recovered.

Raleigh said this year's team has more pitching depth than in 2008. Danny Wiltz is the key returnee after his 2.83 ERA and four saves were tops for the Vols last season. It remains to be seen which other pitchers can lighten Wiltz's load.

Also considered:

• The "best schedule in the country," according to Raleigh.

• More longballs.