CAREER HIGHS

• Runs Scored: 3 // vs. Illinois, 3/9/24
• Hits: 2 // vs. Bowling Green, 3/3/24
• Doubles: 1 (4x) // last vs. Alabama A&M, 2/22/23
• Triples: N/A
• Home Runs: 1 // vs. Alabama A&M, 5/3/22
• Total Bases: 4 // vs. Alabama A&M, 5/3/22
• RBI: 2 (2x) // last vs. Alabama A&M, 2/22/23
• Walks: 1 (12x) // last vs. Alabama A&M, 4/9/24
• Stolen Bases: N/A
• Hit By Pitch: 1 (3x) // at Eastern Kentucky, 4/11/23
• At-Bats: 3 (3x) // last vs. Bellarmine, 4/25/23
• Sac Bunts: 2 // at Clemson, 6/3/23
• Sac Flies: N/A
• Putouts: 4 (3x) // last at Clemson, 6/3/23
• Assists: 1 (9x) // last vs. Alabama A&M, 4/9/24

CAREER HONORS

• 2023 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2022 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2021 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2019-20 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll

2024

• Registered two runs during the midweek victory over Alabama A&M (4/9).
• Came across home a career-high three times during Tennessee's win over Illinois (3/9).
• Tallied three hits with two RBIs and a run during two games against Bowling Green (3/1-3).
• Scored his first run of the season during the win over ETSU (2/21/24).

2023

• Came on as a pinch runner at #4 Clemson in the regional and stayed in the game, dropping down two clutch sacrifice bunts and locking down first base in a 14-inning thriller
• Started at third base on Senior Day, drawing a walk in a win over Belmont (5/16)
• Singled and scored a run in midweek win over Bellarmine (4/25)
• Made his first-career start, getting the nod at third base in midweek win over Western Carolina (3/21)
• Recorded a pinch-hit single in win over Morehead State (3/10)
• Tallied a double, two RBIs and a run scored in a win over Alabama A&M (2/22)
• Doubled and drove in a run in his lone at-bat in midweek win over Alabama A&M (2/21)
• Made season debut as a pinch runner and went on to play first base in season opener vs. Arizona (2/17)

2022 

• Hit first career home run, along with two RBI in win over Alabama A&M (5/3)
• Recorded a hit and one RBI in win against Rhode Island (3/11)
• Had his second double of year as a pinch hitter in win over Iona (2/26)
• Recorded first hit of the season with a double in win over UNC Asheville (2/23)
• Made season debut as a pinch runner and scored a run in season opener vs. Georgia Southern (2/18)

2021 

• Played in 13 games, totaling five runs scored and two hits in limited action
• Entered the game as a pinch runner and scored a run in win over Vanderbilt (4/17)
• Made his SEC debut as a pinch runner, scoring a run in back-to-back games at Alabama (4/3 & 4/4)
• Had a pinch-hit single in win over Western Carolina (3/30)
• Made his Tennessee debut against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2/23), recording a single and scoring a run

2020

• Did not see action

HIGH SCHOOL

• Four-year starter at Germantown High School in Germantown, Tennessee
• Top 500 rated player by Perfect Game and No. 26 rated player in the state of Tennessee
• Two-time Perfect Game Preseason All-American
• Named the 2019 West 10 Media Male Athlete of the Year
• Named to the Memphis Commercial Appeal All-Metro second team as a senior in 2019
• Played in the Shelby County All-Star Game as a senior in 2019
• Earned second-team All-Metro honors from the Commercial Appeal as a junior in 2018 
• Was the Shelby County Interscholastic Athletic Association (SCIAA) MVP as a sophomore in 2017 after helping lead Germantown to the SCIAA AAA Baseball Championship
• Finished his career with a .383 batting average and batted over .400 during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons
• Holds numerous Germantown High School records for the decade spanning 2010-2019, including: most runs scored (94), most hits (125), most triples (10), most RBI (62) and most walks (81)
• On the mound, he also holds the Germantown High single-season record for strikeouts in the 2010s with 61 in 2018
• Played for Team Tennessee in 2018
• Played travel ball for the Dulins Dodgers
• Three-time All-Tournament Team selection on the club ball circuit
• Helped lead eXposure 18U Prime to the 2019 Perfect Game 18U Peach State Championship
• Was also a standout on Germantown's football team, leading the program to a 23-2 record and a pair of Region 8-6A titles as the starting quarterback in 2017 and 2018
• Was a first-team All-Region selection at quarterback as a junior and senior after leading Germantown to two straight Region 8 Championships on the gridiron.

PERSONAL

• Full name is Ethan Cragar Hobson Payne
• Born on Sept. 27, 2000
• Currently pursuing a master's degree in recreation/sport management
• Earned his bachelor's degree in management from the Haslam College of Business in May 2023
• Son of Todd and Michelle Payne
• Has one sister: Mary Grace Payne