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Tennessee adds infielder Gavin Kilen from transfer portal

On3 imageby:Eric Cain07/04/24

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Gavin Kilen baseball transfer portal
© Ken Ruinard - staff / USA TODAY NETWORK

Fireworks were aplenty on this Fourth of July holiday as former Louisville infielder Gavin Kilen committed to Tennessee via the transfer portal.

Kilen is currently considered the No. 3 player in the transfer portal per On3 and No. 1 by Baseball America. He chose Tennessee over LSU and Florida.

Former Louisville infielder Gavin Kilen entered the transfer portal on the first week the window opened in early June. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound sophomore is draft eligible in 2025 and has seen his stock soar this past spring. He has two years of eligibility remaining in Knoxville. 

Kilen picked up Third-Team All-ACC honors in 2024, finishing with a .330 average to go along with nine home runs, 41 runs batted in, 39 runs scored, 23 doubles and three triples. The infielder led the squad in hits, doubles and total bases while his 23 doubles were tied for fifth-most in program history. The sophomore started 54 of his 56 games at shortstop this past spring.

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As a freshman in 2023, Kilen played in 46 games with 38 starts across the middle infield – 30 at second base and eight at shortstop. He logged a .265 batting average with nine doubles, a triple and 18 RBI. Prior to attending Louisville, Kilen was selected in the 13th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox and was a member of the 2021 U18 national team. Kilen was also a 2022 Perfect Game All-American and took part in the 2022 MLB High School All-Star Game.

The rising junior was in town a few weekends ago on an official visit, watching Tennessee play host to Evansville in the Knoxville Super Regional. 

The transfer portal opened June 3 and remained open through July 3. Eight players entered the transfer portal from Tennessee, a list that includes Derek Schaefer, Robin Villeneuve, Bradke Lohry, Matthew Dallas, Wyatt Evans, Danie Parris and 2023 third baseman Zane Denton. Tennessee picked up a commitment from Junior College pitcher Thomas Crabtree before heading off to Omaha.

Kilen joins Tanner Franklin as the two commits for Tennessee out of the transfer portal thus far.

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