The Los Angeles Angels selected Tennessee baseball right-handed pitcher Nate Snead with the No. 105 pick of the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday night. This is now the eighth Vol to be taken and the fifth UT pitcher off the board.
Snead played two seasons at Tennessee before becoming draft-eligible. In 2025, he was one of the top arms in the Vols’ bullpen. In 23 appearances, one of which a start, he earned a 4-2 record and five saves. In 49.2 innings pitched, he posted a 4.53 ERA with opponents hitting just .283 against him.
With preseason All-American First-Team expectations, Snead was named to the Midseason All-American Third-Team (Perfect Game) and was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List due to a strong start.
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His first season in Knoxville saw him play a key part of a team that went on to win the SEC regular season and tournament title before claiming the school’s first baseball national championship. Out of the bullpen, he appeared in five of Tennessee’s six games at the 2024 Men’s College World Series.
On the season, Snead notched a 3.11 ERA in 29 appearances and one start. He earned a 10-2 record and six saves in 75.1 innings pitched. Opponents only hit .251 against him.
He was named to the ABCA All-Southeast Region First-Team as a relief pitcher for the year. In the off-season, he competed for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
Snead is known for his cannon of a right arm that produced one of the highest velocity fastballs in the country. While it developed with the Vols under pitching coach Frank Anderson, it’s something he brought through the transfer portal. He played his first season at Wichita State before transferring out. In the portal, he picked UT over LSU and Arkansas.
In one year with the Shockers, Snead pitched in 24 games while earning a 3.16 ERA. He struck out 53 batters in 42.2 innings.
He is from South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he starred for South Milwaukee High School. He was named the conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference member as a senior in 2022 and threw the school’s first-ever perfect game.
