Philadelphia, PA. -Tennessee right-handed pitcher Tegan Kuhns became the latest Volunteer to hear his name called in the first round of the MLB Draft.
The St. Louis Cardinals selected Kuhns with the No. 32 overall pick Saturday.
His selection marked the fifth straight year a Tennessee had a player drafted in the first round. Kuhns is also the fifth Vols pitcher drafted in the first round since 2020.
Kuhns continues Tennessee’s recent run of first-round selections, further cementing the Volunteers as one of college baseball’s premier developers of professional talent.
The sophomore from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, emerged as Tennessee’s ace during the 2026 season. The 6-foot-3 right-hander paired a mid-to-upper 90s fastball with a sharp breaking ball and advanced command, establishing himself as one of the top pitching prospects in this year’s draft.
Kuhns finished his sophomore campaign with 106 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched and a 3.56 ERA.
Kuhns arrived in Knoxville as one of the nation’s top prep pitching prospects after opting to honor his commitment to Tennessee rather than sign professionally out of high school. Following a promising freshman campaign and a standout summer in the Cape Cod League, he elevated his draft stock with a dominant sophomore season that included several marquee performances in SEC play and the NCAA Tournament.
His selection extends Tennessee’s streak of producing first-round MLB Draft picks.
Kuhns now joins a growing list of former Tennessee standouts to begin their professional careers after starring in Orange and White.
