FORT WORTH, Texas – Four more Tennessee Vols were selected on day two of the 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday, giving them an NCAA-best eight total draft picks through the first 10 rounds.
MLB DRAFT PICKS BY SCHOOL (Thru Day 2)
Tennessee 8
LSU 7
Arkansas 6
Florida State 6
Mississippi State 6
Oklahoma 6
Oklahoma State 6
Vanderbilt 6
Oregon State 5
Texas A&M 5
Wake Forest 5246 of 315 (78 percent) picks were D1 players
h/t @Brian_ClemsonAC— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) July 15, 2024
The Volunteers’ eight picks are the program’s most ever through 10 rounds and are tied for the second most in any single draft with the 2023 and 1992 teams. Since the MLB Draft was shortened to just 20 rounds in 2021, UT has had at least seven players selected each year and leads the nation with 33 total players drafted in that span.
Three of the four Tennessee players drafted on Monday afternoon were pitchers as Drew Beam (Third Round – Kansas City Royals), AJ Causey (Fifth Round – Kansas City Royals) and Aaron Combs (Eighth Round – Chicago White Sox) were all taken to mark the fourth consecutive non-COVID year draft that the Vols have had at least three pitchers selected.
Redshirt sophomore outfielder Kavares Tears was the other Vol picked on Monday, going in the fourth round to the San Diego Padres.
UT led all programs with four picks on day one of the 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, representing the most players selected through the first two rounds of any draft in program history.
⚾️MOST DRAFT PICKS ON SUNDAY⚾️
Tennessee 4
LSU 3
Wake Forest 3
FSU 2
Kentucky 2
Mississippi State 2
Oregon State 2
Texas A&M 2
Vanderbilt 2
Virginia 2— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) July 15, 2024
For the second time in the last three years, Tennessee had two players selected in the first round of the MLB Draft, as the Vols’ dynamic duo of Christian Moore (No. 8 overall – Los Angeles Angels) and Blake Burke (No. 34 overall – Milwaukee Brewers) joined the growing list of UT first rounders.
The Vols have had at least one player selected in the first round of the MLB Draft in four of the last five years, and with Moore’s selection, have now had players picked in the top-10 overall in back-to-back drafts for the first time in program history during the modern draft era after pitcher Chase Dollander went ninth overall to the Colorado Rockies last year.
Moore and Burke, who rank first and second in program history in career home runs, are the 20th and 21st first-round picks in program history and the fifth and sixth under head coach Tony Vitello and staff.
The Big Orange also boasted two second-round picks in third baseman Billy Amick (No. 60 overall – Minnesota Twins) and outfielder Dylan Dreiling (No. 65 overall – Texas Rangers), a duo that combined to drive in 140 runs this season while helping lead Tennessee to its first National Championship in program history.
DAY 1 (ROUNDS 1-2)
2B Christian Moore – Los Angeles Angels – First Round – No. 8 Overall
The latest Vol bound for #MLBDraft // #GBO pic.twitter.com/MWO0VRbZFS— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
Moore is the highest drafted Tennessee player of the Vitello era (2018-pres.) and the highest selected Vol since Nick Senzel went No. 2 overall to the Cincinnati Reds in 2016. Moore is coming off a record-setting junior season for the National Champion Volunteers, receiving first-team All-America honors from D1Baseball.com, Baseball America and Perfect Game as well as first-team All-SEC acclaim.
The Brooklyn, New York, native became just the third player in Southeastern Conference history to win the Triple Crown with his stats in league play, leading the SEC with a .429 batting average, 20 home runs and 41 RBIs in conference play while also leading the league with 57 hits and 123 total bases.
Moore finished the year as the nation’s leader in hits (111) and total bases (236) while also ranking in the top-25 nationally in home runs (3rd – 34), runs (t-8th – 83) and slugging percentage (14th – .797).
Moore’s numbers from this season rank in the top 10 in UT single-season annals in multiple categories, including first in home runs (34), first in total bases (236), first in extra-base hits (55), second in hits (111), third in runs (83), seventh in slugging percentage (.797) and seventh in RBIs (74). Moore also finished his Tennessee career as the program’s all-time home run leader with 61 while ranking in the top-10 in slugging percentage (third – .697), extra base hits (third – 100), total bases (third – 438), runs (fourth – 179), walks (fifth – 115) and RBIs (sixth – 160).
Dollywood to Hollywood!
C-Mo is headed to LA.#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/Eu5c1SjUu9— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
1B Blake Burke – Milwaukee Brewers – Competitive Balance Round A – No. 34 Overall
We foresee lots of trips down the slide in Bernie Brewer’s future!#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/ZtDWDwRN3Y— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
Burke is coming off his best season at the collegiate level, leading the nation with 30 doubles and finishing second in the country with 108 hits. The junior slugger’s 30 doubles were tied for the most in program history while his 108 hits ranked fifth most in Tennessee single-season history. Burke also posted career highs in batting average (.379), runs (74), home runs (20), RBIs (61), walks (35), total bases (200) and stolen bases (11) in 2024. His 50 career home runs rank second all-time at UT.
The California native was a unanimous first-team All-American at first base, becoming the second UT player to do so in the Vitello era. Burke is now a member of an exclusive group of Volunteers to garner first-team acclaim from five or more outlets, joining the likes of program legends Todd Helton (1995), Jeff Pickler (1998), Chris Burke (2001), Luke Hochevar (2005) and Dollander (2022).
Blake to the Brew Crew!#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/20hmG4j0D7— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
3B Billy Amick – Minnesota Twins – Second Round – No. 60 Overall
Hey @Twins, y’all got The Stroke on your playlist? #GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/qy2y27dYZ0— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
Amick made the most of his lone season on Rocky Top, ranking among the team leaders in a handful of offensive categories for the national champion Volunteers despite missing eight games due to injury. His 23 home runs were tied for second on the team while his 65 RBIs were third most for UT.
The Batesburg, South Carolina, native was tabbed a first-team midseason All-American by Perfect Game and was named the SEC Player of the Week on March 4. Amick played his first two years of college ball at Clemson where he was an All-American and All-SEC selection as a sophomore in 2023.
Billy Barrels is a Minnesota Twin!#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/U8QJtbz9Ku— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
OF Dylan Dreiling – Texas Rangers – Second Round – No. 65 Overall
Mr. Clutch knows a thing or two about winning titles. Should fit right in with the reigning World Series Champs!#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/fwHb3qQCcu— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
Dreiling was selected with the final pick of the second round after a breakout sophomore season for the Big Orange, hitting .341 with 19 doubles, 23 home runs and a team-leading 75 RBIs, which rank sixth most in program history.
The third-team D1Baseball.com All-American and first-team All-SEC outfielder also led the Vols with 53 walks and a .459 on-base percentage.
Dreiling saved his best performances for the biggest moments, earning Most Outstanding Player honors at the Men’s College World Series after leading the team with a .542 batting average, three home runs and 11 RBIs during the Vols’ championship run in Omaha. In the championship series, Dreiling went 7-for-12 with four runs and seven RBIs and became the first player in MCWS history to homer in all three games of the finals.
They say everything is bigger in Texas, well, you won’t find a player in this year’s draft with bigger swings than Dylan Dreiling!@Rangers, you got a good one!#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/Ib4LPLPRWE— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
DAY 2 (ROUNDS 3-10)
RHP Drew Beam – Kansas City Royals – Third Round – No. 76 Overall
QB1 is headed to KC!#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/9a7EB5XUR4— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
Beam capped his accomplished collegiate career with another productive season for the Vols, earning All-America honors for the second time in his career. The junior righthander was tied for the team lead with 19 starts and tossed a career-high 102.1 innings, posting a 9-2 record and career-best 99 strikeouts on the year.
Beam was especially big during UT’s title run in Omaha, going 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 14 strikeouts over two starts at the Men’s College World Series.
The Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native finished his Tennessee career ranked among the program leaders in a handful of categories, including tied for second in starts (52) and third in victories (26). Beam also ranks tied for sixth in strikeouts (249) and ninth in innings pitched (262.2) in UT career annals.
A proven winner and consistent presence on the mound who played a major part in bringing the Vols their first National Title in program history.#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/CJIOeO1vRk— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
OF Kavares Tears – San Diego Padres – Fourth Round (Compensation Pick) – No. 134 Overall
KT headed to the west coast and sunny San Diego!#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/LFO2a5VqBD— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
After a breakout redshirt-sophomore season, Tears was recognized as an ABCA All-Southeast Region and All-SEC performer for the first time in his career. The athletic and powerful outfielder was seventh in the SEC with 73 runs scored while ranking among the Vols’ team leaders in most offensive categories.
Tears finished second on the team in walks (53) and third in runs scored while ranking fourth in batting average (.324), OPS (1.070), hits (79), doubles (16), home runs (20), RBIs (62), slugging percentage (.643) and on-base percentage (.427).
The Lewisburg, Tennessee, was also tabbed to the SEC All-Defensive team after posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 102 putouts while showcasing his incredible arm strength with four outfield assists.
“Potential 20/20 guy and five-tool player.”
Some high praise for Kavares Tears!#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/N1ZpHr1MnU— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
RHP AJ Causey – Kansas City Royals – Fifth Round – No. 138 Overall
Another premium arm headed to Kansas City!#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/KzP1IX2v1W— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
Causey was a breakout star for the Big Orange in 2024 and earned third-team All-America honors from three different outlets after finishing the year tied for first in the country with 13 victories. The junior righthander earned a win or a save in 14 of his 19 outings with eight of his victories coming against SEC foes.
Causey posted a 13-3 record with a team-leading 125 strikeouts, a mark that ranked 11th nationally and third in the SEC. With his win over Evansville in the NCAA Super Regional opener, Causey moved into a tie for fourth on UT’s single-season wins list. His strikeout total finished as the sixth-highest in program history, as well.
The nation’s leader in wins this season joins teammate Drew Beam in KC!
“Whiffle ball stuff.”#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/8N1XomJOuS— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
RHP Aaron Combs – Chicago White Sox – Eighth Round – No. 229 Overall
Another UT pitcher off the board!@aaroncombsbsb is headed to the .#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/HGxbjSwHHb— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
Combs emerged as one of the nation’s most dominant relief pitchers during the second half of the 2024 season and played a major part in the Vols’ postseason success. The Sarasota, Florida, native recorded the final three outs of the Men’s College World Series championship game.
The redshirt junior righthander ended the season with a 3-1 record and 3.35 ERA in 24 appearances while finishing fourth on the squad with 66 strikeouts in 45.2 innings pitched. His impact during conference play was even more impressive as Combs posted a 1.25 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP while holding opposing hitters to a .152 average in 11 SEC appearances.
Combs finished tied for the team lead and fifth in the SEC with six saves on the year, including saves in both the SEC Tournament Championship game and the final game of the MCWS finals.
As clutch as they come. Don’t be surprised to see Aaron Combs in The Show in the not so distant future!#GBO // #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/6zdsXoESaq— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 15, 2024
The 2024 MLB Draft will conclude on Tuesday afternoon starting at 2 p.m. ET with rounds 11-20. Coverage of the final round can be seen on MLB.com.
