Chicago White Sox select Vols transfer portal commit Ryan Galanie in 13th round

Tennessee transfer portal commit Ryan Galanie has been selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 2023 MLB Draft with the 389th overall pick in the 13th round.

The former Wofford slugger committed to Tennessee out of the transfer portal on July 2. Not being selected in the top-10 rounds where a slot value is assigned, the White Sox will now make an offer to Galanie. He has the option to accept and begin his professional career or come back to college where he would play the 2024 season in Knoxville. Galanie told Volquest earlier this month that if the opportunity was right, he would go pro.

13 (389): @whitesox select Wofford (SC) 3B Ryan Galanie https://t.co/vTpRILWdBS #MLBDraft

— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) July 11, 2023

The corner infielder is the reigning SoCon Player of the Year, coming alive at the plate each of the past two seasons, combining for 34 home runs (17 HRs in both 2022, 2023) and 129 RBI. Galanie registered a .383 batting average this past season and hit .329 as a junior in 2022. There’s versatility to his game as well, starting all 59 contests at third base in 2022 while manning the first base bag in 2023.  

Galanie cut down on his strikeouts greatly as a senior this past year, retiring only 39 times across 230 at-bats compared to 54 times over a 219 at-bat span in 2022. The utility player, who can also play outfield, was a freshman in 2020 – playing in only six games. He has one year of eligibility remaining.  

Tennessee #Vols transfer portal commit @ryangalanie has been drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 13th round of the #MLBDraft https://t.co/ZuXinnvBxL

— Eric Cain (@_Cainer) July 11, 2023

The senior was a two-time Southern Conference Player of the Month in 2023 and won the Player of the Week honor as well on March 10. He’s currently launched four home runs and drove in 16 runs while playing for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Summer League.

Galanie, though a transfer portal commit, joins a group of Chase Dollander, Maui Ahuna, Andrew Lindsey, Seth Halvorsen and Jared Dickey of Vols drafted thus far.

Vols in the 2023 MLB Draft

RHP Chase Dollander – Rockies – Round 1, 9th overall
3B Carson Rucker (commit) – Tigers – Round 4, 107th overall
SS Maui Ahuna – Giants – Round 4, 117th overall
RHP Andrew Lindsey – Marlins- Round 5, 146th overall pick
RHP Seth Halvorsen – Rockies – Round 7, 202nd overall pick
OF/C Jared Dickey – Royals – Round 11, 319th overall pick
INF Ryan Galanie (transfer portal commit) – White Sox – Round 13, 389th overall pick

MLB Draft Vols in the Tony Vitello Era

Entering this year’s draft, there had been 28 players drafted by Major League Baseball organizations during the Tony Vitello tenure, one that started in the spring of 2018. Tennessee had a program-record 10 players drafted in 2022 with two first rounders, Drew Gilbert (Astros, pick 28) and Jordan Beck (Rockies, pick 38 in Competitive Balance Round A). Two Tennessee players who have been drafted under Vitello are currently in the Major Leagues – Ben Joyce (2022), Garrett Crochet (2020).

Overall, the Volunteers have boasted 183 draft picks all-time with 55 players reaching the show. Prior to Chase Dollander (2023), the Vols had sported 20 total first round selections.

Vitello is coming off his second College World Series appearance in the past three seasons as head coach of the Volunteers. Tennessee broke a 22-year Omaha winless streak with its 6-4 victory over Stanford on June 19, a win that snapped a six-game losing streak on the stage. The Vols capped the 2022 campaign with a 44-22 record and Tennessee is the only team in college baseball to average 50 wins over the past three seasons.

Here’s a list of players who have been drafted after being coached by Tony Vitello at Tennessee (entering the 2023 draft).

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