The Chicago White Sox selected Tennessee shortstop signee Billy Carlson with the 10th pick in the 2025 MLB Draft Sunday night.
Carlson ranked as the No. 3 high school prospect and No. 2 shortstop in the 2025 recruiting cycle according to Perfect Game. A standout at Carona High School in Southern California, Carlson ranked as the No. 7 MLB Draft prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
According to MaxPreps, Carlson hit .365 with six home runs, four doubles, a triple and 34 RBIs in 31 games played during his senior season. He also totaled 23 walks to just 17 strikeouts. Carlson committed to Tony Vitello and his staff on Oct. 25 after officially visiting Tennessee earlier in the fall.
While Carlson could still come to Tennessee and play college baseball, it’s unlikely that the White Sox would have drafted him in the first round if they weren’t prepared to match his asking price and sign him straight out of high school.
More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball Signee Goes In The Top 10 Of The 2025 MLB Draft
Carlson is the second Tennessee signee off the board along with shortstop Steele Hall. Ethan Moore, Cameron Appenzeller and Kruz Schoolcraft are also threats to sign professionally and forego college baseball.
Shortstop and middle infield as a whole is a question for Tennessee baseball in 2026 with the Vols almost certainly losing Dean Curley and Gavin Kilen to the MLB Draft. Rising sophomore Manny Marin could move from third base to shortstop while shortstop Ariel Antigua is back for his junior year and is looking to break onto the scene.
Follow along at RockyTopInsider.com for complete coverage of Tennessee baseball related action in the 2026 MLB Draft.
