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Giants come to terms with first rounder Gavin Kilen

On3 imageby: Eric Cain07/21/25_Cainer
Gavin Kilen. Credit: Tennessee Athletics
Gavin Kilen. Credit: Tennessee Athletics

A week after the San Fransico Giants selected Gavin Kilen in the first round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft with the No. 13 overall pick, the former Tennessee infielder has come to terms with the organization.

Kilen signed for $5,247,500 on Sunday, according to MLB.com’s Jim Callis. The slot valued for the No. 13 overall pick is $5,524,300. The junior was one of a record four first round draft picks by the Vols in 2025.  

“He could play anywhere. Second, short or third,” Tony Vitello said of Kilen’s defense the night of the draft on the MLB Network broadcast. “I think really, he might have been our best guy at each of those three spots. Going back to my battle about recruiting, we were talking about being around earlier today. Being around competition can only help you. The Parker family, the Holiday’s, the Willits’.

Kilen, who played shortstop the final month of the season after starting the year at the keystone, hit a team-high .357 and had a 1.112 OPS with a .671 slugging percentage after transferring to Tennessee from Louisville. He hit 15 home runs, had 46 RBI and 60 runs scored on his 75 hits, which included 13 doubles and four triples. He started 52 times in 53 games while missing roughly 12 games with injury midway through the year.  

Tennessee in the 2025 MLB Draft

*Denotes has signed with organization

Round 1 (No. 5 overall) Liam Doyle – Cardinals*
Round 1 (No. 9 overall) Steele Hall (signee) – Reds*
Round 1 (No. 10 overall) Billy Carlson (signee) – White Sox
Round 1 (No. 13 overall) Gavin Kilen – Giants*
Round 1 (No. 20 overall) Andrew Fischer – Brewers
Round 1 (No. 25 overall) Kruz Schoolcraft (signee) – Padres
Round 1 (No. 33 overall) Marcus Phillips – Red Sox*
Round 2 (No. 52 overall) AJ Russell – Rangers
Round 2 (No. 64 overall) Dean Curley – Guardians
Round 2 (No. 72 overall) Tanner Franklin – Cardinals*
Round 3 (No. 105 overall) Nate Snead – Angels*
Round 5 (No. 149 overall) Matt Barr (JUCO) – Twins
Round 7 (No. 225 overall) Mason Estrada (portal) – Dodgers
Round 14 (No. 430 overall) Clay Edmondson (portal) – Padres
Round 15 (No. 456 overall) DJ Newman (portal) – Astros
Round 17 (No. 522 overall) Cannon Peebles – Guardians
Round 18 (No. 534 overall) Ethan Moore (signee) – Reds
Round 19 (No. 572 overall) Cameron Appenzeller (signee) – Mariners

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