University of Tennessee Athletics
2023 MLB Draft Central: Eight Vols Selected During 2023 MLB Draft
July 09, 2023 | Baseball
The 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft concluded on Tuesday afternoon with eight Tennessee Volunteers having heard their names called in the draft.
Eight picks ties the second-highest number of Volunteers taken in a single draft with the 1992 season and is behind only the 2022 draft class which had 10 players. The Vols also finished with the second-most picks in the Southeastern Conference, trailing just LSU who had 13.
Since head coach Tony Vitello assumed the reins of the program (2018), Tennessee has had 35 players drafted total. The last three draft classes have netted 25 picks and at least seven individuals have been selected each season since 2021.
Tennessee had six pitchers taken in the 2023 draft, a new program record, surpassing the five arms chosen in both the 1992 and 1996 seasons.
Dollander became the 19th first-round pick in program history and the fourth under head coach Tony Vitello and his staff, including the second pitcher to go in the first round during that time, joining Garrett Crochet (No. 11 in 2020).
No Tennessee player has been drafted higher than Dollander during Vitello's tenure, as the Georgia native became the first Vol picked in the top 10 since Nick Senzel went No. 2 overall in 2016. Dollander is also the highest-drafted pitcher straight out of college in program history (see note below).
**VFL Luke Hochevar was selected with the 40th pick in the 2005 MLB Draft but did not sign and played one season of independent league pro ball before being taken with the first overall pick of the 2006 draft.
More info on Tennessee's 2023 first-round selection can be found below.
On top of earning consensus first-team All-America honors in 2022, Dollander became just the second player in program history to earn Southeastern Conference Pitcher of Year recognition after posting a perfect 10-0 record and an NCAA-best 0.80 WHIP to go along with a 2.39 ERA.
Dollander recorded seven more victories in 2023 to help lead the Vols to their second Men's College World Series appearance in three years. He was also named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American, becoming just the ninth player and second pitcher in UT history to earn such honors.
Tennessee now has had three players or more taken in the first five rounds of the MLB First-Year Player Draft in three of the last four drafts. Prior to the 2020 draft, the last time Tennessee had that many players taken in the first five rounds was 2007.
For more information on the Volunteers' second-day selections, read below.
Ahuna made the most of his one season in the Orange and White, finishing second on the team with a .312 batting average while leading the Vols with 20 doubles.
The junior shortstop paired his elite defensive skills with production at the plate, serving as one of the team's most dangerous hitters over the second half of the season, finishing the year with eight home runs, 42 RBIs, 110 total bases and a .962 OPS despite not playing in 12 games.
Ahuna was Tennessee's top hitter in the College World Series, batting .462 with a team-leading six hits and two runs scored over the team's three games in Omaha. In nine NCAA Tournament games, the Hilo, Hawaii, native, batted .308 with four RBIs, eight runs and 12 hits, including a pair of doubles and a homer.
After stepping away from baseball for a year, Lindsey found his way to Tennessee and burst onto the scene in his lone season with the Vols, earning third-team All-America honors from Baseball America.
The New Johnsonville, Tennessee, native, began the year as a reliever before earning a weekend starting role midway through the season to help spearhead a second-half surge for the Big Orange on their way to Omaha. Lindsey's 2.90 ERA was the lowest of any UT pitcher who threw 40 or more innings while his 1.11 WHIP was the second lowest. The veteran right hander went 3-4 on the year in 21 appearances with nine starts, striking out 73 batters while allowing just 19 walks and holding opposing hitters to a .225 average.
After moving Lindsey to the starting rotation, the Vols went 6-3 in his nine starts, including five consecutive SEC series-opening victories down the stretch to secure postseason positioning. Lindsey earned NCAA Clemson All-Regional team honors after striking out 10 and allowing just one run over seven innings against his former team as UT defeated Charlotte, 8-1.
Halvorsen emerged as one of UT's top bullpen arms this season, leading all full-time relievers with 52 innings pitched and 52 strikeouts while posting a 3-3 record and two saves.
A former weekend starter at Missouri, Halvorsen transferred to Tennessee in 2022 but missed the entire season due to injury before becoming a key piece to the Vols' bullpen in 2023 and helping lead the program back to the Men's College World Series.
Halvorsen's 1.06 WHIP and .201 opponent batting average were both the lowest on the team among pitchers who threw at least 35 innings. The Minnesota native's 25 appearances ranked third on the team while his 3.81 ERA also ranked third among pitchers with 35-plus innings of work.
Read about Tennessee's Day 3 selections below.
The Vols' lone All-SEC performer in 2023, Dickey was the team's best all-around hitter for much of the season and by far UT's most consistent threat at the plate throughout conference play.
The Mount Juliet, Tennessee, native, led the team with a .328 batting average, 80 hits and three triples while also ranking second in runs scored (55), RBIs (52) and total bases (128). In SEC only games, Dickey batted an incredible .369 (third-best in the league) and had 41 base hits (tied for fifth in the league).
Dickey was a part of two College World Series teams (2021 & 2023) and helped lead the Volunteers to the SEC regular-season and tournament titles (2022) during his time on Rocky Top. After redshirting during his true freshman season, Dickey posted a .343 batting average, scored 84 runs, cranked out 118 hits, belted 19 homers and drove in 71 runs over 103 games played (86 starts) during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
An electric arm out of the bullpen, Joyce heard his name called after just one season on Rocky Top. The Knoxville-native stepped away from baseball for two seasons, but came back to play for the Volunteers after finding his love for the game again.
Joyce started the year incredibly strong, not allowing a run in his first five innings of action with the Volunteers. A lively fastball and strong offspeed stuff helped him post a 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings mark this season while turning in 10.1 innings over 13 appearances.
The pick is especially notable given Zach's twin brother, Ben Joyce, was selected by the Angels last year in the third round and made his major league debut for Los Angeles on May 28, 2023, with Zach in attendance.
After three seasons developing in the Tennessee program, Jake Fitzgibbons was selected by Arizona after a strong redshirt-sophomore season on Rocky Top.
The southpaw made 17 appearances and struck out 20 hitters over 12 innings pitched, a 15.0 K/9. Opposing hitters had just a .105 batting average off of him in 2023 and for his career at UT, their average was only .190. Fitzgibbons finished 3-0 at Tennessee and made 30 total appearances for the Orange & White.
The final Tennessee Volunteer to come off the board was Jenkins. In just one season with the Vols, Jenkins carved out a nice role for himself in the bullpen, appearing in 18 games and logging 16.1 innings. The right-hander grew up in Knoxville a Tennessee fan and leaves the program with a 1-0 record and a 13.4 strikeouts per nine innings, having fanned 24 batters in 2023.
Jenkins fired scoreless outings against Missouri, Florida (twice), Arkansas, Georgia and South Carolina, striking out eight batters in five innings total against those teams.
Eight picks ties the second-highest number of Volunteers taken in a single draft with the 1992 season and is behind only the 2022 draft class which had 10 players. The Vols also finished with the second-most picks in the Southeastern Conference, trailing just LSU who had 13.
Since head coach Tony Vitello assumed the reins of the program (2018), Tennessee has had 35 players drafted total. The last three draft classes have netted 25 picks and at least seven individuals have been selected each season since 2021.
Tennessee had six pitchers taken in the 2023 draft, a new program record, surpassing the five arms chosen in both the 1992 and 1996 seasons.
DAY 1 (ROUNDS 1-2)
For the third time in the last four years, Tennessee baseball had a player selected in the first round of the MLB Draft, as pitcher Chase Dollander was taken with the No. 9 overall pick by the Colorado Rockies on Sunday night.The Moment Chase became a Colorado Rockie.#GBO // #OTH pic.twitter.com/Ne3jU4ePRW
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 10, 2023
Dollander became the 19th first-round pick in program history and the fourth under head coach Tony Vitello and his staff, including the second pitcher to go in the first round during that time, joining Garrett Crochet (No. 11 in 2020).
No Tennessee player has been drafted higher than Dollander during Vitello's tenure, as the Georgia native became the first Vol picked in the top 10 since Nick Senzel went No. 2 overall in 2016. Dollander is also the highest-drafted pitcher straight out of college in program history (see note below).
**VFL Luke Hochevar was selected with the 40th pick in the 2005 MLB Draft but did not sign and played one season of independent league pro ball before being taken with the first overall pick of the 2006 draft.
More info on Tennessee's 2023 first-round selection can be found below.
RHP – Chase Dollander – Colorado Rockies – First Round – No. 9 Overall
A highly-decorated performer during his two seasons at Tennessee, Dollander posted a 17-6 record and a 3.64 earned run average during his career with the Vols. The junior right hander posted back-to-back seasons with 100-plus strikeouts, finishing with 228 during his two years with the Big Orange, which ranks ninth in program history. He also held opponents to a .212 batting average in 33 appearances (31 starts).Doe to the Mile High City! 🏔️
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 9, 2023
Chase Dollander is taken with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft by the @Rockies!!#GBO // #OTH pic.twitter.com/1qiI14YjwJ
On top of earning consensus first-team All-America honors in 2022, Dollander became just the second player in program history to earn Southeastern Conference Pitcher of Year recognition after posting a perfect 10-0 record and an NCAA-best 0.80 WHIP to go along with a 2.39 ERA.
Dollander recorded seven more victories in 2023 to help lead the Vols to their second Men's College World Series appearance in three years. He was also named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American, becoming just the ninth player and second pitcher in UT history to earn such honors.
DAY 2 (ROUNDS 3-10)
Three Volunteers had their named called on Day 2 of the 2023 MLB Draft as Maui Ahuna was taken by the San Francisco Giants in the fourth round, Andrew Lindsey had his named called by the Miami Marlins in the fifth round and Seth Halvorsen was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round.Tennessee now has had three players or more taken in the first five rounds of the MLB First-Year Player Draft in three of the last four drafts. Prior to the 2020 draft, the last time Tennessee had that many players taken in the first five rounds was 2007.
For more information on the Volunteers' second-day selections, read below.
SS – Maui Ahuna – San Francisco Giants – Fourth Round – No. 117 Overall
Maui to the Bay! 🌉
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 10, 2023
With the 117th pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the @SFGiants select Maui Ahuna!!#GBO // #OTH // #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/y0rnFTttTc
Ahuna made the most of his one season in the Orange and White, finishing second on the team with a .312 batting average while leading the Vols with 20 doubles.
The junior shortstop paired his elite defensive skills with production at the plate, serving as one of the team's most dangerous hitters over the second half of the season, finishing the year with eight home runs, 42 RBIs, 110 total bases and a .962 OPS despite not playing in 12 games.
Ahuna was Tennessee's top hitter in the College World Series, batting .462 with a team-leading six hits and two runs scored over the team's three games in Omaha. In nine NCAA Tournament games, the Hilo, Hawaii, native, batted .308 with four RBIs, eight runs and 12 hits, including a pair of doubles and a homer.
RHP – Andrew Lindsey – Miami Marlins – Fifth Round – No. 146 Overall
From Rocky Top to South Beach, Andrew Lindsey heading to Miami! 🏖️
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 10, 2023
With the 146th pick in the MLB Draft, he is taken by the @Marlins!!#GBO // #OTH // #MakeItMiami pic.twitter.com/QOhmyOBsvV
After stepping away from baseball for a year, Lindsey found his way to Tennessee and burst onto the scene in his lone season with the Vols, earning third-team All-America honors from Baseball America.
The New Johnsonville, Tennessee, native, began the year as a reliever before earning a weekend starting role midway through the season to help spearhead a second-half surge for the Big Orange on their way to Omaha. Lindsey's 2.90 ERA was the lowest of any UT pitcher who threw 40 or more innings while his 1.11 WHIP was the second lowest. The veteran right hander went 3-4 on the year in 21 appearances with nine starts, striking out 73 batters while allowing just 19 walks and holding opposing hitters to a .225 average.
After moving Lindsey to the starting rotation, the Vols went 6-3 in his nine starts, including five consecutive SEC series-opening victories down the stretch to secure postseason positioning. Lindsey earned NCAA Clemson All-Regional team honors after striking out 10 and allowing just one run over seven innings against his former team as UT defeated Charlotte, 8-1.
RHP – Seth Halvorsen – Colorado Rockies – Seventh Round – No. 202 Overall
Another one to Colorado! 🏔️
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 10, 2023
With the 202nd pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the @Rockies select Seth Halvorsen!!#GBO // #OTH // #Rockies pic.twitter.com/Fikq6uSAbZ
Halvorsen emerged as one of UT's top bullpen arms this season, leading all full-time relievers with 52 innings pitched and 52 strikeouts while posting a 3-3 record and two saves.
A former weekend starter at Missouri, Halvorsen transferred to Tennessee in 2022 but missed the entire season due to injury before becoming a key piece to the Vols' bullpen in 2023 and helping lead the program back to the Men's College World Series.
Halvorsen's 1.06 WHIP and .201 opponent batting average were both the lowest on the team among pitchers who threw at least 35 innings. The Minnesota native's 25 appearances ranked third on the team while his 3.81 ERA also ranked third among pitchers with 35-plus innings of work.
DAY 3 (ROUNDS 11-20)
Tennessee finished off the draft with four players drafted on the final day. Jared Dickey was the first to hear his name called, going in the 11th round to Kansas City. In the 14th round, a pair of Vols went back-to-back as Zach Joyce was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 414th pick and Jake Fitzgibbons was taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 415th pick. Bryce Jenkins rounded out the list of Vols to have their names called on Tuesday when he was picked by the New York Mets in the 17th round.Read about Tennessee's Day 3 selections below.
UTL – Jared Dickey – Kansas City Royals – 11th Round – No. 319 Overall
Dickey is headed to Kansas City! 👑
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 11, 2023
With the No. 319 pick in the MLB Draft, Jared Dickey gets the call from the @Royals!!#GBO // #OTH // #Royals pic.twitter.com/DPrAoMLrWF
The Vols' lone All-SEC performer in 2023, Dickey was the team's best all-around hitter for much of the season and by far UT's most consistent threat at the plate throughout conference play.
The Mount Juliet, Tennessee, native, led the team with a .328 batting average, 80 hits and three triples while also ranking second in runs scored (55), RBIs (52) and total bases (128). In SEC only games, Dickey batted an incredible .369 (third-best in the league) and had 41 base hits (tied for fifth in the league).
Dickey was a part of two College World Series teams (2021 & 2023) and helped lead the Volunteers to the SEC regular-season and tournament titles (2022) during his time on Rocky Top. After redshirting during his true freshman season, Dickey posted a .343 batting average, scored 84 runs, cranked out 118 hits, belted 19 homers and drove in 71 runs over 103 games played (86 starts) during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
RHP – Zach Joyce – Los Angeles Angels – 14th Round – No. 414 Overall
Zach to the Halos! 👼
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 11, 2023
Zach Joyce is selected No. 414 by the @Angels in the 2023 MLB Draft!!#GBO // #OTH // #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/Mo4aoth3SC
An electric arm out of the bullpen, Joyce heard his name called after just one season on Rocky Top. The Knoxville-native stepped away from baseball for two seasons, but came back to play for the Volunteers after finding his love for the game again.
Joyce started the year incredibly strong, not allowing a run in his first five innings of action with the Volunteers. A lively fastball and strong offspeed stuff helped him post a 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings mark this season while turning in 10.1 innings over 13 appearances.
The pick is especially notable given Zach's twin brother, Ben Joyce, was selected by the Angels last year in the third round and made his major league debut for Los Angeles on May 28, 2023, with Zach in attendance.
LHP – Jake Fitzgibbons – Arizona Diamondbacks – 14th Round – No. 415 Overall
Fitzgibbons makes it 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤-𝟐-𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤! 🏜️
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 11, 2023
Fitz is heading to the Desert after being selected No. 415 by the @Dbacks in the 2023 MLB Draft!#GBO // #OTH // #ArizonaBorn pic.twitter.com/zpfdzp9g92
After three seasons developing in the Tennessee program, Jake Fitzgibbons was selected by Arizona after a strong redshirt-sophomore season on Rocky Top.
The southpaw made 17 appearances and struck out 20 hitters over 12 innings pitched, a 15.0 K/9. Opposing hitters had just a .105 batting average off of him in 2023 and for his career at UT, their average was only .190. Fitzgibbons finished 3-0 at Tennessee and made 30 total appearances for the Orange & White.
RHP – Bryce Jenkins – New York Mets – 17th Round – No. 516 Overall
Bryce to the Big Apple! 🏙️🍎
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 11, 2023
With the No. 516 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the @Mets select Bryce Jenkins!!#GBO // #OTH // #LGM pic.twitter.com/fdKvNGce06
The final Tennessee Volunteer to come off the board was Jenkins. In just one season with the Vols, Jenkins carved out a nice role for himself in the bullpen, appearing in 18 games and logging 16.1 innings. The right-hander grew up in Knoxville a Tennessee fan and leaves the program with a 1-0 record and a 13.4 strikeouts per nine innings, having fanned 24 batters in 2023.
Jenkins fired scoreless outings against Missouri, Florida (twice), Arkansas, Georgia and South Carolina, striking out eight batters in five innings total against those teams.
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