MLB Draft Preview: Tennessee expects another strong showing in summer showcase

The 2024 Major league Baseball Draft is set to begin Sunday, July 14 and run through Tuesday, July 16. Over the course of the three-day period, several Vols are expected to hear their names called who will begin their professional journeys.

A total of seven Vols currently rank as MLB.com’s top-250 draft prospects while several more appear in the top-500 by Baseball America. Not only will current Vols be selected over the next three days, but several 2024 signees and junior college commits could be selected as well.

Entering the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft, Tennessee has seen 141 players drafted 155 times since the free agent draft began in 1965. A grand total of 180 players from the University of Tennessee have gone on to sign professional contracts. Prior to this summer’s draft, of the 161 draft picks in program history, 64 have been selected in the top-10 rounds while 112 have been picked in the top-19 rounds. It’s worth noting, however, that starting in 2021, the draft was shortened to 20 rounds.

Last summer, the eight draft picks in the 2023 MLB Draft tied for second-most in program history (with 1992) and trailed only the 2022 draft class which saw 10 players selected. The six pitchers drafted in the class was a program record and the eight total was second-most in the Southeastern Conference – only trailing LSU.

Entering this draft, the Vols have had a total of 35 players drafted with Tony Vitello leading the program (since 2018). The draft classes of 2021, 2022 and 2023 netted 25 draft picks with at least seven individuals drafted in each.

Tennessee will say goodbye to Christian Moore, Billy Amick, Drew Beam, Blake Burke, Dylan Dreiling and Kavares Tears as the group are expected early round selections. AJ Causey and Aaron Combs are also projected as top-10 round picks. Zander Sechrist and Cal Stark have a chance to drafted in the latter rounds.

In addition to the current Vols, several Tennessee signees could hear their names called, and if singed, would begin their professional journeys. Tegan Kuhns, Anson Seibert, Ty Southisene, Jay Abernathy, Trey Snyder, Manny Marin and Levi Clark are draft risks. Junior College commit Tanner Wiggins is as well.

Viewing Information

Location: Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, TX.
Dates: Sunday (Rounds 1-2), Monday (Rounds 3-10), Tuesday (Rounds 11-20)
Times: 7 pm ET (Sunday), 2 pm ET (Monday), 2 pm ET (Tuesday)
TV (Round 1): ESPN, MLB Network

Tony Vitello will serve as a draft analysis during the broadcast of the first round while Christian Moore will be one of six prospects on hand in person for the festivities. Here is a breakdown of each draft prospect for Tennessee ahead of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.

INF Christian Moore

MLB.com Ranking: No. 13
Baseball America Ranking: No. 12

Moore, the Triple Crown award winner for Southeastern Conference play, was one of college baseball’s best players in 2024, scorching the baseball for 34 home runs and 74 runs batted in from the leadoff spot. His .375 batting average was four ticks lower than teammate Blake Burke, who led the squad.

The infielder also recorded just the second cycle ever in a College World Series game against Florida State on June 14, but it was his fifth hit of the day that was most important – a double where he turned around to score the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Burke’s two-run single.

INF Billy Amick

MLB.com Ranking: No. 32
Baseball America Ranking: No. 29

Amick’s lone season at Tennessee was a major success after coming over via the transfer portal last summer from Clemson. The third baseman logged 23 homers, drove in 65 runs and hit for a .306 batting average. He did miss eight games midway through the season.

RHP Drew Beam

MLB.com Ranking: No. 64
Baseball America Ranking: No. 41

Beam was a staple of the pitching staff over his three seasons on Rocky Top, combining to go 26-8 over 51 starts (52 appearances) from 2022-24 with a career ERA of 3.60. The righty made every weekend start for the Vols this past season, contributing a 9-2 record over 102.1 innings pitched. Saving his best for last, the righty tossed nine innings of two-run baseball with 14 strikeouts to four walks in two starts in Omaha as the Vols captured their first ever national title this past season.

1B Blake Burke

MLB.com Ranking: No. 65
Baseball America Ranking: No. 51

Burke was named a First Team All-American by four different publications for his efforts in 2024, a season where he raked 20 home runs and drove in 61 runs while hitting .379 for the national champions. The first baseman finished his Tennessee career second in program home runs with 50 over three seasons.

In 2024, Buke also registered career highs in average, games played (72), at-bats (285), runs (74), hits (108), doubles (30), home runs, RBI, walks (35) and stolen bases (11). The slugger was also named a two-time Freshman All-American in 2022 after homering 14 times in just 95 at-bats.

OF Dylan Dreiling

MLB.com Ranking: No. 72
Baseball America Ranking: No. 73

Dreiling was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player after playing a key role for the Vols in Omaha while capturing their first ever national championship. The draft-eligible sophomore belted a seventh inning two-run home run in each of the three CWS Finals games against Texas A&M.

He led the team with 75 RBI, launched 23 home runs and hit for an impressive .341 average in the cleanup spot. The Hays, Kan. native was named a Third Team All-American by D1 Baseball for his efforts this past season.

OF Kavares Tears

MLB.com Ranking: No. 66
Baseball America Ranking: No. 83

Finally healthy in 2024 after battling several minor injuries to begin his career, Tears went from not having a position defensively to becoming a member of the 2024 All-SEC Defensive Team in the outfield. He was the everyday right fielder for the Vols this season, but played great centerfield at times, including a pair of nice catches in Omaha while filling in for Hunter Ensley.

The slugger broke through at the plate this year as well, spending the first two-thirds of the season as the Tennessee cleanup hitter before shifting back to sixth in the order for the final stretch. Tears totaled a .324 batting average with 20 home runs and 62 RBI while walking 45 times and scoring 73 runs.

RHP AJ Causey

MLB.com Ranking: No. 242
Baseball America Ranking: No. 435

Causey made his first season in Knoxville a great one, racking up three All-American accolades while accumulating a 13-3 overall record. The sidewinder with a unique arm slot logged 91.1 innings pitched this season with 125 strikeouts and 22 walks. He also started six games over his 19 appearances while opponents hit for a .259 average against him.

RHP Aaron Combs

MLB.com Ranking: n/a
Baseball America Ranking: n/a

Combs emerged as one of the top backend of the bullpen talents in all of college baseball in 2024. The righty tied for the team-lead with six saves on the year, logging 45.2 innings on the mound with 66 strikeouts to 23 walks. He was a bulldog in Omaha as he collected the final three outs to clinch the College World Series championship over Texas A&M after throwing 60+ pitches the day before.

LHP Zander Sechrist

MLB.com Ranking: n/a
Baseball America Ranking: n/a

Sechrist transformed into one of Tennessee’s best starting pitchers towards the end of 2024 and was on the mound for the Volunteers at critical moments along the way. The southpaw clinched the regular season SEC championship, pitched Tennessee to the SEC Tournament championship, was on the mound for the Vols to clinch the Knoxville Regional and Super Regional and started games that put Tennessee into the CWS Finals and the CWS clincher as well. The opener-turned starter finished 2024 with a record of 6-1 and an ERA of 3.12.

C Cal Stark

MLB.com Ranking: n/a
Baseball America Ranking: n/a

The defensive-minded backstop, Cal Stark, picked off seven base runners in 2024 and controlled the pitching staff with ease this past season – a staff that finished sixth nationally with an ERA of 3.89 over 73 games played. His bat caught up with 11 home runs and 30 RBI this season, despite a .212 average at the dish. Stark was a critical piece for the national championship ballclub.

Tennessee commits to keep an eye on

Tony Vitello Vols who have been drafted (35)

2023 – Chase Dollander – Round 1, Rockies
2023 – Maui Ahuna – Round 4, Giants
2023 – Andrew Lindsey – Round 5, Marlins
2023 – Seth Halvorsen – Round 7, Rockies
2023 – Jared Dickey – Round 13, Royals
2023 – Zach Joyce – Round 14, Angels
2023 – Jake Fitzgibbons – Round 14, Diamondbacks
2023 – Bryce Jenkins – Round 17, Mets
2022 – Drew Gilbert – Round 1, Astros
2022 – Jordan Beck – Round 1, Rockies
2022 – Blade Tidwell – Round 2, Mets
2022 – Trey Lipscomb – Round 3, Nationals
2022 – Ben Joyce – Round 3, Angels
2022 – Will Mabrey – Round 6, Diamondbacks
2022 – Jorel Ortega – Round 6, Twins
2022 – Seth Stephenson – Round 7, Tigers
2022 – Mark McLaughlin – Round 7, White Sox
2022 – Cortland Lawson – Round 14, Nationals
2021 – Chad Dallas – Round 4, Blue Jays
2021 – Liam Spence – Round 5, Cubs
2021 – Max Ferguson – Round 5, Padres
2021 – Connor Pavolony – Round 7, Orioles
2021 – Jake Rucker – Round 7, Twins
2021 – Jackson Leath – Round 12, Rangers
2021 – Sean Hunley – Round 19, Rays
2020 – Garrett Crochet – Round 1, White Sox
2020 – Alerick Soularie – Round 2, Twins
2020 – Zach Daniels – Round 4, Astros
2019 – Andre Lipcius – Round 3, Tigers
2019 – Garrett Stallings – Round 5, Angels
2019 – Andrew Schultz – Round 6, Phillies
2019 – Zach Linginfelter – Round 9, Angels
2019 – Ricky Martinez – Round 18, Diamondbacks
2019 – Jay Charleston – Round 26, Royals
2018 – Zach Linginfelter – Round 19, Nationals
2018 – Benito Santiago – Round 34, Cardinals

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