What Gavin Kilen's addition means for Tennessee baseball roster as Louisville transfer

Tennessee baseball made a major transfer portal splash Thursday as Louisville infielder Gavin Kilen announced his commitment to the Vols.

Kilen, a third-team All-ACC pick as a sophomore, is a projected first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and ranked as Baseball America's No. 3 transfer in the nation Wednesday. Kilen hit .330 with nine home runs, 41 RBIs and scored 71 runs in 56 games in 2024.

Here is what to know about Kilen and how he fits in the Tennessee infield:

What Gavin Kilen brings to Tennessee baseball

Kilen is a left-handed hitter who slotted mostly in the middle of the order for the Cardinals as a sophomore. He is aggressive at the plate and makes a lot of contact. He struck out in only 9.4% of his plate appearances, but also walked only seven times.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Kilen hit 23 doubles with nine homers, which profiles well for him to succeed at Lindsey Nelson Stadium as it caters kindly to lefties. He had 35 extra-base hits as a sophomore after having 10 without a homer as a freshman as his slugging numbers took a major leap.

He is a good defender at shortstop, where he could stick long-term. He is not a big base-stealing threat with only four attempts last season.

How Gavin Kilen affects Tennessee baseball infield

Kilen started 62 games at shortstop in two seasons and 30 at second base. He started exclusively at shortstop as a sophomore.

Dean Curley is returning as the starting shortstop, but the 6-foot-3 Curley is capable of playing third base as well and that is probably where he profiles at the professional level. Curley is locked him into the lineup in some capacity as a draft-eligible sophomore coming off a solid freshman year. That left-side pairing of Kilen and Curley makes a lot of sense as the roster stands.

Ariel Antigua is the player likely most affected by Kilen's addition, although there is a path to an infield with Curley at third, Antigua at shortstop and Kilen at second base. Antigua is an elite defensive shortstop who was in line for a major role before a preseason hand injury. He was used as a late-inning defensive replacement after his return. He still has to prove he can hit on a consistent basis.

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The wild card for Tennessee's infield is if the Vols add a third baseman in the transfer portal. Ole Miss' Andrew Fischer, who hit 20 homers as a sophomore, is a player the Vols will work to add. If Fischer comes to Tennessee, the left side of the infield gets very crowded. Antigua might be the odd player out in that situation. Fischer also could be a designated hitter, which solves some of the potential jam.

The Vols also have signed a handful of heralded high-school middle infielders, but some likely will be picked in the MLB Draft. Tennessee had a crowded group in the middle infield last season and likely will again. It will sort through the options in the fall, which is how coach Tony Vitello likes to do it.

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