One MLB team is trending to land Tennessee Vols RHP Tegan Kuhns in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft
Former Tennessee Volunteers right-handed pitcher Tegan Kuhns could be selected in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
Tennessee Vols RHP Tegan Kuhns spent his first two seasons of college on Rocky Top, but he won’t be back for a third.
Kuhns is a draft-eligible sophomore, and there’s a decent chance he’s selected in the first round after pitching to a 3.56 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 81 innings for the Vols in 2026.
The Athletic’s Keith Law, in fact, is hearing that the Seattle Mariners are interested in selecting Kuhns with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft this weekend.
“I thought the Mariners might go with a bat here, not for need, per se, but because there’s depth in college hitters with strong data at this spot, but I’ve heard they’re heavy on Kuhns, who has great stuff and had a breakout year for Tennessee,” wrote Law on Friday. “I don’t see any way they go high school pitcher (after hearing a month or so ago that might be their direction). If Kuhns is gone, I could see them with Logan Hughes, AJ Gracia, Zion Rose or Cole Carlon. Not sure if they’d take Cameron Flukey or if they’ve not been linked because they assume he’s gone.”
You never know how the draft will play out, but I’ve seen some mocks that have Kuhns slipping out of the first round, so it seems there’s a good shot he’ll be there for the Mariners to take at No. 24 overall.
The 2026 MLB Draft is set to get underway at 1:00 pm ET on Saturday.