Why Tennessee baseball could have best draft yet under Tony Vitello in 2024 MLB Draft

Tennessee baseball could be headed for its best MLB Draft yet under coach Tony Vitello − even better than its historic 2022 draft.

The Vols have a bounty of top-100 prospects and a solid helping of mid-round picks to complement the top talent in the 2024 MLB Draft, which begins Sunday.

Here is what to know about the the Vols and their recruiting class in the upcoming draft:

Tennessee baseball could have six top-100 picks in 2024 MLB Draft

Tennessee had five players picked in the top-100 of the MLB Draft in 2022. It could top that number this season, setting up for its best draft yet.

Six Vols are ranked in the top-75 prospects for the 2024 MLB Draft, according to MLB.com. Second baseman Christian Moore leads the way at No. 31, while third baseman Billy Amick is No. 32. Drew Beam is the top-ranked UT pitcher at No. 64. First baseman Blake Burke is No. 65 and outfielder Kavares Tears is No. 65. Outfielder Dylan Dreiling is No. 72.

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Could Tennessee have multiple first-rounders again?

Tennessee had two first-round picks in 2022 with outfielder Drew Gilbert going No. 28 to the Houston Astros and outfielder Jordan Beck picked No. 38 by the Colorado Rockies. The Vols could repeat the feat with Moore and Amick − or in any combination with the likes of Dreiling, Burke and Tears floating out there with loud skills.

UT has had multiple first-rounders four times since 2001, including having three in 2007. Catcher J.P. Arencibia was picked No. 21 in 2007, while outfielder Julio Borbon was taken No. 35 and pitcher James Adkins was picked No. 39. 

Hitters lead the way for the Vols in the 2024 MLB Draft

Tennessee set a program-record with six pitchers selected in 2023. This year is the opposite with hitters leading the way, especially at the top end of the group.

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Moore and Burke have been viewed as high draft picks since their freshman year in 2022. Dreiling and Tears solidified themselves as prospects with big seasons in 2024 but have long been on the MLB radar. Amick emerged as a highly regarded prospect with his 2023 season at Clemson.

AJ Causey, Aaron Combs and Zander Sechrist are all likely draft picks as pitchers. Tennessee could match the program-record of 10 draft picks if another player is taken. Catcher Cal Stark or pitcher Kirby Connell would be the most likely potential draft picks beyond the expected group of nine.

Tennessee baseball's recruiting class could lose a handful to the draft

Tennessee has the top-ranked recruiting class in the nation for 2024, which carries with it the reality the Vols will likely be hit harder in the draft than in previous years.

There are many prospects that could be chosen early in the draft and go pro, including right-handed pitchers Tegan Kuhns and Anson Seibert. Kuhns, a 6-foot-4 pitcher from Gettysburg Area (Pennsylvania), is ranked No. 96 by MLB.com. Seibert, a 6-8 pitcher from Blue Valley Southwest in Kansas, is No. 108. Infielders Ty Southisene (Basic, Nevada), Manny Marin (Westminster Christian, Florida), and Trey Snyder (Liberty North, Missouri) are also coin-flips on whether they will play for the Vols or not. All three are ranked in the top-200 prospects.

North Cobb (Georgia) shortstop/second baseman Jay Abernathy is No. 122, but seems likely to make it to Knoxville.

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Catcher/first baseman Levi Clark from Marietta (Georgia) is another big-time prospect. Brayden Krenzel from Dublin (Ohio) and Tate Strickland from Powder Springs (Georgia) are solid right-handed pitching prospects.

Typically, high school prospects set a signing bonus demand which teams have to meet. The higher the bonus, the more willing and likely the prospect is to go to college. A lower bonus means a prospect will be more signable in the draft, which allots each team a total signing bonus pool to allocate across all draft picks

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it