2025 MLB Draft: Gavin Kilen contract details revealed for San Francisco Giants first-round pick

A week after getting drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft, former Tennessee second baseman Gavin Kilen has signed his pro contract. He’ll receive $5.248 million, a deal a little below slot value, according to a report from MLB.com’s Jim Callis.

Slot value for the pick Kilen was taken at — No. 13 overall — was $5.524 million. While he didn’t quite reach full slot value, Kilen still gets an excellent pro contract.

Gavin Kilen started his college career at Louisville, spending two years with the Cardinals before transferring to join the Volunteers. He had a monster 2025 season after the move.

Kilen started 52 games for Tennessee, leading the team with a .357 batting average. He even hit four triples.

Perhaps most importantly, Gavin Kilen was at his best in the postseason. During the Knoxville Regional, he collected nine hits across four games. He scored eight times as Tennessee won the regional and advanced to the Super Regional round.

Kilen also flashed some power at the plate, hitting 15 home runs on the season. He notched 46 RBI, while he scored 60 times himself. He posted a .671 slugging percentage and a .441 on-base percentage.

As a second baseman, Gavin Kilen had 52 put-outs and 78 assists. He made five errors, fielding at a .963 percentage.

MLB.com provided an extensive pre-draft write-up on Gavin Kilen. Here’s what the publication had to say about him as a prospect:

“With outstanding hand-eye coordination, a quick left-handed swing and feel for the barrel, Kilen continues to excel as a contact hitter. He tends to swing too often and chase breaking pitches, sometimes putting pitches in play without much authority and rarely drawing walks. He has shown more power with the Volunteers but may not have more than average raw pop, and while his hitting ability should enable him to get to most of it, he has yet to prove he can drive balls in the air with wood bats.

“Kilen’s skills stand out more than his tools, with his speed and arm strength both grading as average. He has good actions and instincts but the game speeds up on him and his arm is a bit stretched at shortstop. He’s a solid defender at second base and could develop in a similar fashion to fellow Wisconsin prep product Gavin Lux.”