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Where former Vols rank as 2026 top 30 MLB prospects
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- Where former Vols rank as 2026 top 30 MLB prospects
The 2026 MLB season will open Wednesday with one game between San Francisco and the Yankees at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California. First pitch is slated for 8:05 p.m. EDT (Netflix).
Former Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello is in his first season as the Giants' manager.
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In 2025, nine of his former players at Tennessee played in MLB: Jordan Beck ( Colorado ), Ben Joyce ( Angels ), Garrett Crochet ( Boston ), Seth Halvorsen (Colorado), Chase Dollander (Colorado), Drew Gilbert (San Francisco), Chase Burns ( Cincinnati ), Christian Moore (Angels) and Chase Silseth (Angels).
Nine former Vols were also selected in the 2025 MLB draft: Liam Doyle ( St. Louis ), Gavin Kilen (San Francisco), Andrew Fischer ( Milwaukee ), Marcus Phillips (Boston), AJ Russell ( Texas ), Dean Curley ( Cleveland ), Tanner Franklin (St. Louis), Nate Snead (Angels) and Cannon Peebles (Cleveland).
Ahead of the 2026 season, MLB.com released lists of top 30 prospects for each team. Former Vols are listed below in order when they are expected to debut in Major League Baseball.
More: Tony Vitello joins Dick Howser in going directly from college baseball to MLB
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Blade Tidwell
Blade Tidwell
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Team: San Francisco
Prospect ranking: No. 10
Expected debut: 2026
Blake Burke
Blake Burke
Position: First base
Team: Milwaukee
Prospect ranking: No. 18
Expected debut: 2026
Liam Doyle
Liam Doyle
Position: Left-handed pitcher
Team: St. Louis
Prospect ranking: No. 2
Expected debut: 2027
Andrew Fischer
Andrew Fischer
Position: Third base
Team: Milwaukee
Prospect ranking: No. 6
Expected debut: 2027
Dylan Dreiling
Dylan Dreiling
Position: Outfield
Team: Texas
Prospect ranking: No. 10
Expected debut: 2027
Drew Beam
Drew Beam
Position: rRght-handed pitcher
Team: Kansas City
Prospect ranking: No. 12
Expected debut: 2027
Billy Amick
Billy Amick
Position: Third base and first base
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Team: Minnesota
Prospect ranking: No. 24
Expected debut: 2027
AJ Russell
AJ Russell
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Team: Texas
Prospect ranking: No. 3
Expected debut: 2028
Gavin Kilen
Gavin Kilen
Position: Shortstop and second base
Team: San Francisco
Prospect ranking: No. 5
Expected debut: 2028
Marcus Phillips
Marcus Phillips
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Team: Boston
Prospect ranking: No. 9
Expected debut: 2028
Tanner Franklin
Tanner Franklin
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Team: St. Louis
Prospect ranking: No. 11
Expected debut: 2028
Dean Curley
Dean Curley
Position: Infield
Team: Cleveland
Prospect ranking: No. 14
Expected debut: 2028
Maui Ahuna
Maui Ahuna
Position: Shortstop
Team: San Francisco
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Prospect ranking: No. 20
Expected debut: 2028
Nate Snead
Nate Snead
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Team: Angels
Prospect ranking: No. 20
Expected debut: 2028
Kavares Tears
Kavares Tears
Position: Outfield
Team: San Diego
Prospect ranking: No. 28
Expected debut: 2028
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: When former Tennessee baseball players are expected to make MLB debuts
