February 24, 2024

By Jacques Lanciault

Canadian Baseball Network

Robin Villeneuve, last spring’s NJCAA home run champion, has found his stroke with the University of Tennessee Volunteers.

Villeneuve (Gatineau, Que.) hit his first home run in NCAA Division I as Tennessee thumped the Albany Great Danes 21-6 before 5,127 fans at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday.

In the fourth inning, Villeneuve took the first pitch he saw in his second at-bat over the centre field fence for a two-run homer, putting the Vols up 9-1.

Starting in left field and batting sixth, the 20-year-old Villeneuve also had a single, a walk, was hit by a pitch twice, scored three runs and knocked in two in the contest. He finished the game at first base.

This season with Tennessee, Villeneuve is hitting .556 (5-for-9) with a homer, three RBIs and a 1.622 OPS.

In 2023, Villeneuve was named to the Canadian Baseball Network all-Canadian college First Team. With the Weatherford Coyotes, he hit .401 with 24 doubles, 28 homers, 103 RBIs and a 1.386 OPS in 63 games. Villeneuve led the 1,003 Canadian players in home runs, was second in doubles and RBIs, plus third in slugging. He was tied for fourth in OPS and tied for fourth in hits.