The Tennessee Volunteers baseball team may have turned a corner this past weekend, and it all starts with Friday night when head coach Josh Elander sends out ace sophomore Tegan Kuhns. So far this season, Kuhns is 8–5 with a 3.13 ERA while averaging 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Last Friday, he delivered 15 strikeouts over seven innings against No. 4 Texas, leading Tennessee to a 5–1 win. That performance wasn’t a fluke, but rather part of a season-long trend that shows he is a dominant arm in the SEC.
Tennessee baseball regains national respect after impressive weekend showing
Looking at the bigger picture, Kuhns has been on fire lately. He’s won SEC Pitcher of the Week two times this year, and MLB scouts are definitely paying attention. Baseball America even bumped him up in their latest mock draft, saying he’s looked like a first-round pitcher over his last five starts.
Tegan Kuhns over the last month 📈
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 12, 2026
The @Vol_Baseball RHP moved up in our latest mock.
Here's why: https://t.co/LpYbNeFzto pic.twitter.com/qHMFgULJnq
Tegan Kuhns could be a Round 1 pick in the MLB Draft
What makes Tegan Kuhns such a highly coveted prospect is his three-pitch mix featuring a fastball, curveball, and a slider he has developed more recently. Having a reliable curveball gives him the ability to attack hitters with a dominant fastball. His fastball is particularly impressive, not because it’s overpowering, but because it sits in the mid-90s and plays up due to his ability to generate deception and miss bats. Even more impressive is his command. Kuhns has issued just 13 walks in 72 innings. His ability to consistently pound the strike zone with his fastball makes his breaking balls and offspeed pitches even more effective.
Funny enough, the San Francisco Giants could actually be a good landing spot for Kuhns. First of all, obviously, the connection between manager Tony Vitello and Kuhns is one you cannot ignore. But on a different note, the Giants need arms in their farm system and have a pick right where Kuhns is projected to go.
San Francisco boasts the No. 29 overall draft pick, and Kuhns should be on the board at that time. The Giants have only two pitchers in their top 10 prospects: Jacob Bresnahan (No. 8) and Blade Tidwell (No. 10). Plus, Bresnahan is a lefty, so having a second right arm at the top of the system will be needed. Tidwell is 24 and has been coming out of the bullpen for the Giants, so I wouldn't be shocked to see them take a chance on an arm.
Also, what stands out the most is that Kuhns could join an already elite group of former Vols who have shone in the MLB. After being the No. 9 overall pick, former Vol Chase Dolander has been killing it for the Colorado Rockies. He has a 3.35 ERA this year and is posting nearly 10 strikeouts per nine. Garrett Crochet has already put together an awesome MLB career with back-to-back All-Star appearances. It wouldn’t be shocking at all if Kuhns ends up on a similar path someday. He still has time to improve his draft stock, but right now he’s looking like a first-round arm.
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