Former Tennessee second baseman Gavin Kilen will compete in the MLB Futures Game later this month. The MLB released the rosters on Wednesday with Kilen claiming one of the seven infield spots on the National League team.
Kilen has spent his rookie professional season in High-A on the Eugene Emeralds. The shortstop is slashing .288/.360/.468 with eight home runs and 60 RBIs in just 70 games played. After struggling to hit for power in 10 games in Low-A last season, Kilen has proved to be a stellar power hitter this season. On top of his eight more runs, Kilen’s totaled 24 doubles and one triple.
While Eugene is far from both Knoxville and Kilen’s Wisconsin home, he has plenty of friendly faces in the Giants’ system with Tony Vitello, Frank Anderson and Quentin Eberhardt.
San Francisco selected Kilen with the 13th pick in the 2025 MLB Draft last summer along with Tennessee teammates Liam Doyle and Andrew Fischer.
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Kilen spent just one season in Knoxville, transferring to Tennessee for his junior season after playing his first two collegiate seasons at Louisville. The Milton, Wisconsin native turned in a strong junior season in Knoxville, earning First Team All-SEC honors and First Team All-American honors according to Baseball America.
The left-handed hitter missed multiple weeks in SEC play with a hamstring injury but still slashed .357/.441/.671 with 15 home runs, 13 doubles, four triples and 46 RBIs. Kilen displayed high-level bat-to-ball skills, striking out just 27 times for a highly impressive 11% strikeout rate. His walks (30) also increased in his lone season at Tennessee.
The 2026 MLB Futures Game will take place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 12 to begin All-Star festivities. The Home Run Derby is set for Monday, July 13 and the All-Star game is set for Tuesday, July 14.
