Contract values for all eight of Tennessee Baseball's signed MLB Draft picks

All eight of Tennessee Baseball’s draft picks in the MLB Draft have signed professional contracts, with five of the eight of the deals including bonuses of $1 million or more.

Four Vols were selected in the first two rounds, a new program record, and seven were picked in the first five rounds.

Christian Moore was the highest pick, selected at No. 8 overall in the first round by the Los Angeles Angels, and pitcher Aaron Combs was the final pick, taken in the eighth round at No. 229 overall by the Chicago White Sox.  

Tennessee’s 2024 MLB Draft Class

Christian Moore (1st Round, No. 8 overall, Los Angeles Angels): Moore signed his first professional contract for $4,997,500. He was the highest draft pick for a Tennessee player since Nick Senzel went No. 2 overall in 2016. Moore hit a program-record 34 home runs and had 74 RBI while winning the triple crown in SEC play.

Blake Burke (1st Round, No. 34 overall, Milwaukee Brewers): Burke signed for $2,100,00. He was named a First Team All-American by four different outlets this season, after he hit 20 home runs and drove in 61 runs while hitting .379. Burke finished his Tennessee career second in career home runs with 50 over his three seasons.

Billy Amick (2nd Round, No. 60 overall, Minnesota Twins): According to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, Amick signed for $1,453,700, which is the full-slot value for that draft selection. Amick hit 23 home runs, drove in 65 runs and hit .306.

Dylan Dreiling (2nd Round, No. 65 overall, Texas Rangers): Dreiling reportedly signed for $1,287,600, the full slot value for the No. 65 overall pick. Dreiling was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player after hitting a home run in each of Tennessee’s three games in the championship series against Texas A&M.

Drew Beam (3rd Round, No. 74 overall, Kansas City Royals): Beam signed for $1,097,500. Beam was a staple of the pitching staff over his three seasons at Tennessee, combining to go 26-8 over 51 starts (52 appearances) from 2022-24 with a career ERA of 3.60.

Kavares Tears (4th Round, No. 134, San Diego Padres): Tears got the full slot value for the No. 134 overall pick, signing with the Padres for $525,200, according to Jim Callis. Tears during his breakout junior season had a .324 batting average with 20 home runs and 62 RBI while walking 45 times and scoring 73 runs.

AJ Causey (5th Round, No. 138 overall, Kansas City Royals): According to Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo, Causey signed with the Royals for $477,500. In his only season at Tennessee, Causey had a 4.43 ERA and a 13-3 record in 19 games.

Aaron Combs (8th Round, No. 229 overall, Chicago White Sox): Combs signed for $250,000 when the slot value for the pick was for $232,200, meaning Combs signed for $17,800 above slot. Over 45.2 innings pitched this season, he had a 3.35 ERA. He struck out 66 against 23 walks, giving up 53 runs (45 earned) on 93 hits.

Tennessee’s previous MLB Draft history during the Tony Vitello era

The Vols now have 21 first-round picks in program history, with Tony Vitello responsible for six. Right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander went No. 9 overall to the Colorado Rockies a year ago, one of eight Tennessee players drafted. 

Outfielder Drew Gilbert and third baseman Jordan Beck were both first-round picks in 2022, when a Tennessee record 10 players were drafted. Gilbert went at No. 28 overall to the Houston Astros while Beck went No. 38 to the Rockies.

Seven players were drafted in 2021 and three players were picked in the 2020 draft, which was limited to five rounds during the COVID pandemic. 

Left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet was the No. 11 overall pick to the Chicago White Sox in the 2020 MLB Draft./ Tennessee had eight players drafted in 2018 and 2019, with two players picked in 2018 and six selected in 2019.