UConn two-way star Reggie Crawford transfers to Tennessee in advance of MLB Draft, but will he ever play for Vols?

Reggie Crawford, a two-way prospect expected to be taken in the first round of Sunday’s MLB Draft, has likely played his last college game. But if he does play again as an amateur, it will not be for UConn, but for Tennessee.

Crawford, who went into the transfer portal in June, announced his decision to transfer on Tuesday.

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“Thank you to everyone at UConn for an unbelievable past couple of years,” Crawford said via his Twitter account. “I am extremely thankful for Coach [Jim] Penders as well as the rest of the coaching staff, my teammates, friends, etc., who made it such a great experience. I will forever be grateful.”

Crawford hit .309 with 14 homers and 78 RBI in 64 games for UConn in 2020 and ‘21. He then impressed scouts as a pitcher in the Cape Cod League and for Team USA last summer, hitting 101 mph. But he missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October. He is still expected to be a first-round pick, but this move could give him more negotiating leverage. He could turn down a major-league team and play for a perennial SEC powerhouse program if he cannot come to terms. UConn reached the NCAA super regional, eliminated at Stanford. Tennessee was the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament but was eliminated by Notre Dame in the super regional.

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[ UConn slugger and pitcher Reggie Crawford a potential top MLB pick after breakthrough summer ]

“No surprise. Reggie sat with me face to face when we got back from Stanford and we talked it all over,” Penders said. “I’m excited for him. He feels as though it’s the best thing for him and his family and we’re always going to support that, whatever that is.”

Various draft analysts project Crawford, 6 feet 4 and 235 pounds from Frackville, Pa., going anywhere from the middle of the first round to early in the second round. With Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani showing that a player can do both at the major-league level and generate enormous excitement while doing so, Crawford, 21, has drawn a lot of interest, even during his rehab work at UConn.

He recently met with MLB representatives at the combine in June.

“I don’t know why anyone would pass on him, even if they’re picking first overall,” Penders said. “He’s just different from anyone else in the draft. He has the highest upside and if you meet him there is no downside. I’m looking forward to seeing him continue to flourish as a person and a player. He’ll always hold a special place in my heart and the program.”

Crawford made a lot of friends on the Cape and with USA Baseball, including Drew Gilbert, a Tennessee outfielder also expected to go in the first round. They worked out together on the Tennessee campus last week.

Dom Amore can be reached at damore@courant.com