It will be a busy first couple of rounds for Tony Vitello.
Another year, another busy MLB Draft for Tony Vitello and Tennessee baseball. The Volunteers are expected to see multiple players come off the board on Sunday night as the 2025 MLB Draft gets underway.
Vitello will have a front row seat for the action, serving as an analyst for MLB Network.
SEC pitcher of the year Liam Doyle is expected to kick things off for Tennessee, potentially landing as high as No. 2 overall to the Los Angeles Angels. ESPN has projected that selection for a few months now, citing Doyle’s live fastball and the Angels’ want to push prospects up the ranks quickly.
ESPN’s mock draft 3.0 gives us a good idea of just how many Tennessee baseball names will come off the board early on Sunday.
Where will Liam Doyle land?
- No. 2 (Angels): SP Liam Doyle
Doyle could potentially join Christian Moore out in Los Angeles, who made it to the majors in just 11 months. Doyle certainly could follow that timeline.
High-profile high school prospects
- No. 10 (White Sox): SS Billy Carlson (HS)
- No. 12 (Rangers): SS Steele Hall (HS)
Two of Tennessee’s top three commitments in the class of 2025 come off the board early here, making their MLB decisions easy. Carlson has been projected as high as No. 5 overall.
Best of the rest
- No. 16 (Twins): INF Gavin Kilen
- No. 31 (Orioles): INF Andrew Fischer
- No. 33 (Red Sox): SP Marcus Phillips
- No. 41 (Dodgers): LHP Kruz Schoolcraft (HS)
- No. 67 (Rays): SP AJ Russell
- No. 68 (Brewers): INF Dean Curley
Tennessee could have as many as seven names come off the board in the top 40, according to this ESPN projection. Sluggers Gavin Kilen and Andrew Fischer are both projected first round picks, while Saturday starter Marcus Phillips could come off the board late in the opening round. Kruz Schoolcraft, Tennessee’s second high ranked high school commit, went 41st overall to the Dodgers.
AJ Russell has had some buzz to him as he continues to work back to full strength. Dean Curley is yet another top 100 name for Tennessee. Interestingly enough, big-time transfer Henry Ford was not listed in the mock draft. Ford is an obvious draft risk for Vitello and the staff.
The MLB Draft is set to begin on Sunday night on MLB Network. Coverage will begin at 6 p.m. ET on MLB Network and ESPN.