Who is Tennessee baseball losing to 2024 MLB Draft? Christian Moore, Billy Amick lead list
Mike WilsonTennessee baseball is churning out another elite draft class under coach Tony Vitello.
The Vols, who have had 25 players picked in the past three drafts, have a standout crop of hitters expected to be picked early in the 2024 MLB Draft when it begins with the first round Sunday.
Here are the top players for Tennessee in the MLB Draft:
Christian Moore
MLB.com ranking: No. 13
What to know: Moore had the best offensive seasons in Tennessee history as a junior, slugging a program record in home runs and leaving the as the career record holder as well. Moore's ticket is hit bat and might lead to him being the highest-drafted offensive player under Vitello. He has good opposite field pop and can hit for average. He mostly played second base at Tennessee but has positional versatility to play in the outfield as a pro.
Billy Amick
MLB.com ranking: No. 32
What to know: Amick came to Tennessee as a Clemson transfer and had a massive year. Amick's bat will get him drafted early and could land him in the first round. His power projects to play well in the transition to pro baseball. He's aggressive at the plate but makes a lot of hard contact. Amick transferred to Tennessee to prove he can play third base, but it was an up-and-down season at the position.
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Drew Beam
MLB.com ranking: No. 64
What to know: Beam was a rare three-year starting pitcher in the SEC and did it at a high level. He has three reliable pitches with a plus changeup that has been his most effective weapon. Beam doesn't strike out a lot of batters and pitches to contact, but he is a polished starting pitcher with a low floor that a team will take early in the draft.
Blake Burke
MLB.com ranking: No. 65
What to know: Burke had always shown he has a sweet swing and a lot of power. He showed he is a hitter as a junior. He hit for average and showed an advanced approach at the plate. He can hit the ball to all fields because he has great control of the bat barrel. He also has improved incredibly defensively and is a top-tier first baseman to go with the hitting skills. The complete first baseman will be an early pick.
Kavares Tears
MLB.com ranking: No. 66
What to know: Tears waited his turn as Tennessee, redshirting in 2022 and playing as a reserve in 2023. He long has shown he has serious pop in his bat, which he proved as a full-time player in 2024. He has good power and walks a lot but also strikes out a lot. Tears also has a plus tool in his throwing arm. He flashed above-average throwing skills and also could play centerfield at the next level, which raises his profile.
Dylan Dreiling
MLB.com ranking: No. 72
What to know: Dreiling is a draft-eligible sophomore who will go early because of his skills at the plate, which he showed throughout a dazzling College World Series performance. He makes hard contact to all fields, walks a lot, and hits for average and power. The biggest thing Dreiling proved as a sophomore is he can hit left-handed pitching. He's well-rounded at the plate and has enough athleticism to be an attractive top-100 pick. Dreiling projects as a corner outfielder.
AJ Causey
MLB.com ranking: No. 242
What to know: Causey transferred to Tennessee from Jacksonville State and really proved his pitching talent. He had been used as a closer and starter at Jacksonville State, but settled into a long reliever role at UT. He could be used in any role as a pro. His sidearm delivery and nasty pitches led to a high strikeout rate. He developed consistency in his breaking ball and used a changeup as a Vol that'll help his pro potential.
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Aaron Combs
What to know: Combs is a shutdown bullpen arm. UT used him in tight spots and to cover innings. He proved he can do both. His arm slot makes him hard to handle and led to a lot of strikeouts with a low batting average against. He was elite in the second half of the season and should be a top-10 round pick.
Zander Sechrist
What to know: Sechrist was a multi-year midweek starter before becoming a weekend opener as a senior. He proved he is capable of being a true starter in the final month of the season as he was UT's most consistent staring pitcher. He pounds the strike zone and gets a lot of outs as a crafty left-handed pitcher.
Cal Stark
What to know: Stark was a defense-only catcher in 2023 after transferring from junior college. He added more capable offense last season, hitting as many homers as he had singles. He's still a defense-first catcher but his defense and ability to manage a pitching staff could get him a pro look.
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.