Tennessee infielder Gavin Kilen is off to professional baseball after a strong lone season in Knoxville. Kilen took to social media Sunday night to pen his farewell message to Tennessee baseball.
“Thank you @vol_baseball for the best last year of college baseball!” Kilen wrote on Instagram. “To my teammates, coaches, support staff, and Vol fans that made it such a great experience, thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime! One of the greatest blessings God has ever put in my life was making me a Vol! Rocky Top will always be home! 🧡 #VFL”
The San Fransisco Giants drafted Kilen with the 13th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft and signed him for $5.25 million just slightly below the $5.52 million slot value for that draft pick.
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.
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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.
Kilen was one of four incoming Tennessee transfers last season who were drafted after spending one year in Knoxville. Andrew Fischer, Liam Doyle and Kilen all spent just one season at Tennessee but were major reasons why the Vols were so successful last season. Tennessee clearly had a profound impact on the trio.
“Never wanted it to end, man. What a blessing,” Fischer commented on Kilen’s post.
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.
