​The 2026 Major League Baseball Draft is now behind us, and while it didn’t ignite the same wildfire as the 2024 and 2025 drafts with Tennessee Volunteers players sprinting onto every team’s radar, Tennessee still saw six of its athletes chosen over the two days. Let’s break down where each Vol landed and what it might mean for the programs’ future.
Beginning with the big news, CB-A No. 32: Tegan Kuhns, St. Louis Cardinals. Debut day headlines consistently belong to Tennessee’s ace, and Kuhns was no exception. He entered the draft with a wide range of projections, from a possible 24th pick to Seattle all the way down beyond where he went, ultimately selected No. 32 by the St. Louis Cardinals. Yes, the same Cardinals. For the second consecutive year, St. Louis took one of Tennessee’s top pitching talents early in the draft. Last year, they selected Liam Doyle with the No. 5 overall pick. Kuhns was the Cardinals’ second first-round pick from Tennessee that year, as they also tabbed Tennessee commit Trevor Condon out of Etowah High School in Woodstock, Georgia with the No. 13 pick. With that in mind, Tennessee fans should keep a close eye on St. Louis to see where the program’s ace pitchers from 2025 and 2026 end up, and who might have been their freshman phenom in 2027.
Round 6, No. 191: Henry Ford, Seattle Mariners. Tennessee’s top hitter from 2026 has found a new home in Seattle, a franchise that is strong on the mound but still seeking consistent offense. Ford’s power has been a defining feature, slugging a team-high 20 homers last season and bringing his total to 48 across three collegiate years. He demonstrated clear power potential at the MLB level, though his batting average dipped noticeably in 2026 after posting .362 in 2024 with Virginia. He finished 2026 with a .293 average. The opportunity is there for Ford to provide the long-ball pop and to climb the ladder, provided he can sustain contact as he advances.
Round 7, No. 219: Bo Rhudy, Philadelphia Phillies. Not a bad destination for a pitcher with a knack for late-season development and a track record of resilience. Rhudy delivered an impressive one-year stat line at Tennessee: a 3.38 ERA, 41 strikeouts, just six walks. His unusual delivery and unique arm slot give him a slightly deceptive edge against hitters at the next level, and Philadelphia’s development system could help him refine those tools into a professional-ready repertoire.
Round 8, No. 229: Garrett Wright, Los Angeles Angels. Another Vol heading to Southern California, Wright joins a growing contingent in the Angels organization that already includes Christian Moore and Ben Joyce. Wright was a key part of Tennessee’s offense last season, hitting a robust .348 with nine homers and 17 RBIs. He’s listed as a catcher and outfielder with enough positional flexibility to adapt as needed, which should help his odds of climbing through the minors while providing value with the bat and on the field.
Round 12, No. 367: Brandon Arvidson, Chicago Cubs. Arvidson played a meaningful role in Tennessee’s bullpen last year, appearing in 16 games with one start and logging 37.1 innings. He isn’t known for overpowering stuff, but at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, his size, delivery, and left-handed angle give him a formidable frame to develop into a contributor at the next level if he can refine his offerings and command.
Overall, Tennessee’s six selections demonstrate continued depth and talent across multiple facets of the game. The Cardinals’ early selections of Kuhns and Condon hint at a strong scouting alignment with Tennessee’s pitching pipeline, suggesting that the Volunteers’ influence could ripple into organizational development in St. Louis. The Mariners, Phillies, Angels, and Cubs each added pieces that align with their organizational needs—power hitting, pitching versatility, offensive resilience, and bullpen depth, respectively. As these players begin professional careers, the Volunteers’ program will be watching closely to see how their former stars fare at the next level and which of Tennessee’s 2025–2026 graduates might return as future stars or as influential colleagues in their ongoing journey through the minors to the majors.