Where Tennessee players, Vols signees rank in final MLB Pipeline Draft Rankings
The final MLB Pipeline Draft Prospects Rankings were released late Wednesday night ahead of the 2024 MLB Draft set for July,14-16. Seven Tennessee players find themselves ranked inside the top-250, along with six 2024 signees as well.
Leading the charge is second baseman Christian Moore, who checks in at No. 13. Third baseman Billy Amick is next at No. 32 before a trio of Vols file in consecutively later on at No. 64 (RHP Drew Beam), No. 65 (1B Blake Burke) and No. 66 (OF Kavares Tears). Outfielder Dylan Dreiling was tabbed at No. 72 and right-handed pitcher AJ Causey was mentioned at No. 242.
Right-handed pitcher signee Tegan Kuhns checked in at No. 96 while fellow right-handed pitcher signee Anson Seibert made the list at No. 108. Shortstop pledge Ty Southisene ranked three spots behind at No. 111 with infielder Jay Abernathy at No. 122. Fellow infield signee Trey Snyder was tabbed at No. 155 and shortstop Manny Marin at No. 149.
Tennessee is just days removed from capturing the first national championship program history with an epic Game 3 6-5 win over Texas A&M in the College World Series Finals on Monday night.
Moore, the Triple Crown award winner for Southeastern Conference play, was one of college baseball’s best players in 2024, scorching the baseball for 34 home runs and 74 runs batted in from the leadoff spot. His .375 batting average is just four ticks lower than Burke’s, who launched 20 home runs and drove in 61 runs on the year.
Moore also recorded just the second cycle ever in a College World Series game against Florida State on June 14, but it was his fifth hit of the day that was most important, a double where he turned around to score the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Burke’s two-run single.
Amick’s lone season at Tennessee was a major success after coming over via the transfer portal last summer from Clemson. The third baseman logged 23 homers, drove in 65 runs and hit for a .306 batting average. Tears, finally healthy, broke out with 20 home runs, 62 RBI and a .324 batting average this spring.
Beam was a staple of the pitching staff over his three seasons on Rocky Top, combining to go 26-8 over 51 starts (52 appearances) from 2022-24 with a career ERA of 3.60. The righty made every weekend start for the Vols this past season, contributing a 9-2 record over 102.1 innings pitched. Saving his best for last, the righty tossed nine innings of two-run baseball with 14 strikeouts to four walks in two starts in Omaha in recent weeks.
College World Series Finals Most Outstanding Player – Dylan Dreiling – recorded a two-run home run in the seventh inning of all three Finals games in Omaha against the Aggies. He led the team with 75 RBI, launched 23 home runs and hit for an impressive .341 average in the cleanup spot.
Causey led the squad with 13 wins and here losses with a 4.43 ERA over 91.1 innings pitched. The sidewinder easily led the Vols with 125 strikeouts while walking only 22 in his piggyback role out of the bullpen. The righty did start six games on the season as well.
The Vols finished the season with 60 wins, the most ever by a team from the Southeastern Conference. The 60 wins are the most by a national championship winning program since Wichita State back in 1989 and the most wins overall since Florida State in 2002.
The Vols became just the fourth-team in SEC history to win the regular-season title, SEC Tournament title and College World Series Finals. Vitello has rewritten the Tennessee Baseball record books, leading the country the last four seasons in wins (211), win percentage (.773), NCAA Tournament wins (25) and home runs (566).
Monday’s title victory was the third time in four seasons Tennessee competed in the College World Series and the seventh overall trip to Omaha for the program.
