A record number of Vols hear their name called in this year’s Draft.
FORT WORTH, TX — In a supposed “down year” for the Tennessee Volunteers Baseball team, Tony Vitello etched his name into Knoxville history. Despite the recent success, some still predicted regression in Knoxville. Despite numerous departures via the portal and the MLB draft, the Vols posted their best finish in its 127-year history.
Shortly after adding 2024 Men’s College World Series Champions to their résumé, more than half a dozen VFLs saw their careers reach the Big Leagues.
Eight Vols were selected in the first two days of the Draft setting a record for the most selections in the first 10 rounds in program history.
The highest of these picks, Christian Moore at number eight to the Los Angeles Angels. It was also the highest selection in the Vitello era, and the highest pick since Nick Senzel in 2016 to the Cincinnati Reds.
After this selection, it appears there’s a Knoxville to LA pipeline, as CMo became the fifth Vol to be drafted by an LA-based organization. He follows Dalton Knecht who was drafted by the Lakers, Lady Vols’ Rickea Jackson who was drafted by the WNBA’s Sparks, and of course, Ben and Zach Joyce who are also a part of the LAA organization.
Tennessee’s only other first-round selection came to Blake Burke at number 34 to the Milwaukee Brewers. It marked the second time in three years that two Vols were selected in the first round.
Moore and Burke also ranked first and second in program history in home runs. Moore was third in the nation with 34 and Burke crossed the 20 mark in Omaha against Florida State, in the team’s second meeting of the tournament.
Next, Billy Amick heard his name called. The former Clemson Tiger was crucial to UT’s road to the College World Series and went number 60 overall in the second round. He made his presence known on the plate this past season, knocking himself home 23 times and tallying 65 RBIs.
The last pick of the second round came via the Texas Rangers to Dylan Dreiling. Dreiling added 75 RBIs for the Vols, which led the team and was sixth most in school history. Some of his last moments for the Vols were the most important, as he became the first player in MCWS history to hit a home run in all three games. Eventually, that production earned him the Tournament’s MVP.
UT rolled in on Day Two, with Drew Beam being the Vol first selected. At pick number 76, the right-handed pitcher looked to get his career started with the Kansas City Royals. One of UT’s finest, Beam finished his tenure with 26 wins in 52 starts. He also tied for sixth in strikeouts including 262.2 innings pitched, ninth highest for the Vols.
Kavares Tears went next to the San Diego Padres at pick 134. He was a key piece for the Vols’ deep run last season. The right fielder was one of the best pieces on this team and turned heads on defense, as he was named to the SEC All-Defensive team.
AJ Causey was next up to a familiar program, the KC Royals. Once you hit oil, keep drilling was probably a term thrown around a war room in KC multiple times, I’d like to think. The 138th pick reunited childhood friends, with Causey joining Beam in the KC organization. Causey led the team with 125 strikeouts and a 13-3 record in 2024. His win total led the nation.
Fun fact: Beam and Causey played on the same travel and college teams, and are now drafted by the same organization.
Lastly on Day Two for the Vols, Aaron Combs was picked up by the Chicago White Sox at 229 in round 8. Combsy was one of the best relievers in college baseball. Against SEC opponents, Combs posted a 1.25 ERA and held batters to a .152 average in his 11 outings.
When the Volunteers didn’t think it could get much better, it did. A 60-13 record, made Tennessee the first SEC team to finish with 60 wins in a season. Three of those wins featured an SEC Regular Season and Tournament Title, and a MCWS Championship.
The success delivered in 2024 is a direct testament to the quality of coaching inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tennessee lost the eventual 2024 second-overall pick in the MLB Draft, Chase Burns, to Wake Forrest via the transfer portal after the 2023 season. His departure began an exodus, as 14 more Vols hopped in the portal. They also lost Chase Dollander, Andrew Lindsey, Jarred Dickey, and Maui Ahuna by way of the MLB Draft. Losing some of those big-name arms in the rotation raised questions on Rocky Top, is there enough pitching talent to be competitive?
The answer was yes thanks to two of the most crucial players on the team, Beam and Zander Sechrist, plus some of the best relievers in Causey and Combs. The Vols had a 3.89 era, good for sixth and third-best in the SEC.
All of this circles back to how Vitello secured his legacy in Knoxville.
By the numbers, Vitello didn’t have the most talented team this year, that belongs to Wake Forrest, with the Demon Deacons having three top-10 selections, including Burns. This may not have even been the most talented team in recent memory in Knoxville, but it was the best coached and still had enough power to swing for the fences (yes pun intended).
With all the power Vitello lost this offseason, it brings up the year-old question, do we see regression in Rocky Top?
Tony V has done enough to prove he is truly an elite coach. With the talent he’s recruited from the transfer portal and the talent returning, Tennessee should be a lock for a third consecutive MCWS.
Stay updated with all things Tennessee by subscribing to, Full Disclosure Productions.