Washington Nationals select Tennessee third baseman Trey Lipscomb in 2022 MLB Draft

Third baseman Trey Lipscomb spent the past four seasons as part of the Tennessee Volunteers. He broke out in 2022, putting himself firmly in the 2022 MLB Draft discussion. On Monday, his journey became complete when he was selected with the No. 84 overall pick in the third round by the Washington Nationals.

This past season, Lipscomb hit an impressive .355 with 22 home runs and 84 RBI on a Tennessee team that was the best in all of college baseball for the majority of the season. He struck out 37 times and walked 26 times.

The Nationals are in the midst of a major rebuild, and Lipscomb could find himself rising quickly in an organization that doesn’t have a ton of depth at third base. For now, though, he will look to start at the bottom and work his way up. If he continues hitting like he did this season, he likely won’t have any issues doing exactly that.

Lipscomb’s collegiate career began in 2019, where he tallied just one hit (which was a double) in 14 plate appearances. He then hit .269 in 35 plate appearances in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 campaign with one home run and nine RBI. Lipscomb put up a similar line in 2021, hitting .310 with one home run and nine RBI in 14 games and 34 plate appearances.

In the summer following the 2021 season, Lipscomb played for the Johnstown Mill Rats in the Prospect League in summer ball. There, he hit .356 with three home runs and 31 RBI, also stealing 13 bases.

Lipscomb is one of a few Tennessee players to hear his name called in the 2022 MLB Draft. A couple of Vols were taken in the first couple of rounds on Sunday night, and more are sure to come in the ensuing rounds throughout the rest of the draft.