The San Fransisco Giants selected Tennessee infielder Gavin Kilen with the 13th pick in the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday night. Kilen is the eighth Vol to go in the first round of the MLB Draft during the Tony Vitello era.
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 has high-level bat-to-ball skills, striking out just 27 times for a highly impressive 11% strikeout rate. His walks also increased in his lone season at Tennessee, totaling 30 walks.
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Kilen’s numbers were less impressive during SEC play where he hit .269 with three home runs and seven RBIs. The time missed with the hamstring injury and a slow stretch when he returned were detrimental to his SEC stats.
What position Kilen plays in professional baseball is a major question. He started his junior season at Tennessee playing second base before moving to shortstop in the middle of the season. Kilen mostly played shortstop during his sophomore at Louisville.
The left-handed batter was a more than capable college shortstop but doesn’t have elite athleticism or arm strength which could lead to him playing second base in professional baseball.
Kilen is the second Vol off the board in the 2025 MLB Draft, joining left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle. Kilen joins former Tennessee shortstop Maui Ahuna in the Giants system.
