Liam Doyle could be joining another Tennessee baseball star in the near future, according to the latest MLB Mock Draft from ESPN.
While the two didn’t play with each other and missed crossing paths in Knoxville by one season, Kiley McDaniel has the former Tennessee pitcher projected to land alongside VFL Christian Moore with the Los Angeles Angels.
McDaniel has Doyle going second overall to the Halos.
“Doyle has been tied here for a while, and with good reason: He would probably take a below-slot deal and he is a strong candidate to be first player to the big leagues in this entire class,” McDaniel writes for ESPN. “Given his dominating fastball, he could get big league hitters out right now, and the Angels may be aggressive and let him do just that, then see if they can make him a long-term starter.”
In one season at Tennessee, Doyle posted a 3.20 ERA in 19 appearances and 17 starts. He posted a 10-4 record with one save. The hard-throwing lefty gave up 63 hits and surrendered just 37 runs and 32 walks in 95.2 innings on the mound. He also struck out 164 batters while giving up the long ball just 10 times for the Volunteers.
He was widely considered a first-round pick throughout the season as the Tennessee ace, and has just kept moving up the board since. We’ll find out where Doyle is taken when the 2025 MLB Draft kicks off on Sunday, July 13, in Atlanta, GA.
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello will be able to give his live reaction to the pick as he will be a guest analyst on the panel.
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While Christian Moore is currently on the shelf for the Angels nursing a left wrist injury, he’s had an exciting start to his career since being called up to the majors on June 12. The former Tennessee champion has played in 18 games for the Angels and is hitting .189 with three home runs, eight RBIs, one triple, and eight walks. Moore has come up with some big moments, too, such as his two-home run, walk-off night against the Red Sox in late June.
He’s also been wickedly efficient in the field at second base. Through his first 18 games, Moore has a perfect fielding percentage in 60 total chances and has even turned seven double plays for the Angels. His glove has certainly kept him on the field while he finds more and more rhythm at the plate.
Liam Doyle is one of six former Tennessee Vols projected for the first two rounds of the MLB Draft this weekend. Check out Kiley McDaniel’s full list for ESPN here.
