Gavin Kilen was Tennessee baseball‘s first hitter off the board in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Kilen was drafted No. 13 overall by the San Francisco Giants in the first round on July 13.

The left-handed hitting shortstop was Tennessee’s second pick of the 2025 MLB Draft joining pitcher Liam Doyle as UT had two first-round picks in the draft for the third time in four drafts. Doyle was picked No. 5 by the Cincinnati Reds.

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UT has seven first-round picks in the past four drafts under coach Tony Vitello, including five hitters.

Drew Gilbert (No. 28 to Houston) and Jordan Beck (No. 38 to Colorado) were drafted in the first round in 2022. Christian Moore (No. 8 to the Los Angeles Angels) and Blake Burke (No. 34 to Milwaukee) were first-round picks in 2024.

Gavin Kilen picked No. 13 by San Francisco Giants out of Tennessee

Kilen hit a team-leading .357 in his lone season at Tennessee. He hit 15 homers, 13 doubles and a team-high four triples as he flashed the hitting skills that made him a coveted draft prospect. He played second base and shortstop, earning first-team All-SEC honors at second base.

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He had the fewest strikeouts of any everyday Tennessee player with 27. He walked 30 times after having 17 walks in two seasons at Louisville before transferring to UT.

Kilen missed 11 of 12 games in late March and early April while dealing with a hamstring injury. He returned to DH at Ole Miss before returning to the infield against Lipscomb on April 22.

KILEN: Inside Gavin Kilen’s home run surge to open Tennessee baseball season

Gavin Kilen started his career at Louisville

The Milton, Wisconsin, native hit .323 with 24 homers, 45 doubles and 105 RBIs in 153 games in three seasons between Louisville and Tennessee.

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Kilen earned All-ACC third-team honors for the Cardinals after he hit .330 with nine homers, 41 RBIs and scored 71 runs in 56 games in 2024. He hit 23 doubles and had 35 extra-base hits as a sophomore after having 10 without a homer as a freshman.

He hit .303 in 100 games in two seasons at Louisville, splitting time between second base and shortstop.

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

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Gavin Kilen: Tennessee star picked No. 13 by San Francisco Giants in 2025 MLB Draft