​The MLB draft kicked off with the opening four rounds on July 11 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and will conclude on the second and final day, Sunday, with rounds 5 through 20. Among the players highlighted from Tennessee, former Vols pitcher Tegan Kuhns stood out as the lone Vol selected in the first round. The St. Louis Cardinals picked Kuhns with the 32nd overall selection.
Kuhns is a 6-foot-3, 193-pound right-hander who appeared in 30 games for Tennessee, 24 of them starts, across the 2025-26 seasons under the leadership of head coaches Josh Elander and Tony Vitello. During his tenure with the Vols, Kuhns posted a 7-9 record, registered 146 strikeouts, delivered one complete game, and achieved one shutout while compiling a 4.13 ERA over 117.2 innings pitched. His performance earned him a spot on the 2026 All-SEC second team, and he was honored with SEC Pitcher of the Week accolades twice.
In addition to Kuhns, several other former Tennessee players were selected in the 2026 MLB draft. The list of draftees includes Henry Ford, who went to the Seattle Mariners in the 6th round, 191st overall; Bo Rhudy, chosen by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 7th round, 219th overall; and Garrett Wright, picked by the Los Angeles Angels in the 8th round, 229th overall. Kuhns’ selection and the other Vols draftees reflect a continued presence of Tennessee alumni within professional baseball.
The news about Kuhns and the other Tennessee draftees adds to the program’s recent history of developing pitching talent. For fans following the Vols, the draft marks an important milestone as Kuhns transitions from collegiate baseball to the professional ranks, with his name now listed among the ranks of top prospects recognized in the 2026 MLB draft.
As the draft coverage continues, fans can look to additional updates and insights on Vols Wire, where stories about Tennessee baseball and its players are regularly published. The article announcing Kuhns and the rest of Tennessee’s 2026 MLB draft picks originally appeared on Vols Wire, providing a detailed look at the selections and their potential impact on the program’s future.
Beyond the individual bios, the draft process highlighted Tennessee’s pipeline of talented pitchers and the program’s ongoing ability to develop players who catch the attention of Major League franchises. With Kuhns’ first-round selection and the subsequent rounds featuring other Vols, Tennessee’s reputation for nurturing pitching talent remains strong as players advance toward the professional level.