The 2025 MLB Draft is just under a month away and it is shaking up to be one the most significant of Tony Vitello’s tenure as Tennessee’s head coach. With the draft a month out, MLB.com released an updated first round mock draft and the Vols were prominent in it with three current players and three commits projected to go in the first round.
From the 2025 Vols, the MLB has Liam Doyle (No. 8), Gavin Kilen (No. 21) and Andrew Fischer (No. 27) going in the first round.
Doyle has often been projected as a top five pick in this year’s draft but MLB Pipeline has the Toronto Blue Jays drafting him with the eighth overall pick. A left-handed power arm, Doyle earned SEC Pitcher of the Year honors and is a Golden Spikes Award finalist.
“They now appear to be pursuing pitching and should be able to land one of the best college arms,” Jim Callis wrote. “Doyle’s stock has taken a slight hit after he surrendered 17 runs and 22 hits in his last three starts against SEC opponents (Arkansas twice, Texas).”
Even after the shaky finishes against SEC teams, which bookended a dominant two appearances in the Knoxville Regional, Doyle posted a 3.20 ERA and 0.99 WHIP while striking out 164 batters in 95.2 innings pitched.
MLB Pipeline has the Houston Astros selecting Gavin Kilen with the 20th pick in the draft after Kilen hit .357 with 15 home runs and 46 seasons in his junior season at Tennessee. The middle infielder struggled to fully reclaim his early season power after a hamstring injury midway through SEC hampered him. However, Kilen had a strong finish to the year while hitting in the leadoff spot and starting at shortstop.
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Houston has showed a tendency to select Tennessee contact hitters with pop in the bat in the first round. The Astros selected Drew Gilbert with their first pick in the 2022 draft after Gilbert won the batting title in the SEC. They eventually traded him to the New York Mets.
The Cleveland Guardians are projected to select Andrew Fischer with the No. 27 pick in the first round. Fischer slashed .341/.497/.760 in a stellar junior year at Tennessee. Fischer’s walk rate sky rocketed while his power continued to flourish. His 25 home runs were the second most in a single-season in Tennessee history.
MLB Pipeline has the St. Louis Cardinals selecting Tennessee shortstop signee Billy Carlson with the No. 5 overall pick, the Kansas City Royals selecting Tennessee left-handed pitcher signee Kruz Schoolcraft with the No. 23 overall pick and the Detroit Tigers selecting Tennessee shortstop signee Steele Hall with the No. 24 overall pick.
While the first round looks like it will be riddled with players connected to Tennessee baseball, the real drama will come in the later rounds. The Vols have players on their current roster and signees who could start their professional careers or play at Tennessee next season depending on when they’re selected.
On the 2025 roster, Dalton Bargo, Reese Chapman, Cannon Peebles and Austin Breedlove are worth watching. In its 2025 recruiting class, LHP Cameron Appenzeller, catcher Trent Grindlinger and outfielder Tayler Tracy are draft risks. Junior college transfer commits Matt Barr and Tyler Myatt are draft risks are transfer pitchers Clay Edmondson and Mason Estrada.
