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Tennessee

Marcus Phillips signs with Red Sox following first round selection

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•07/20/25•

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Marcus Phillips. Credit: UT Athletics
Marcus Phillips. Credit: UT Athletics

Former Tennessee right-handed starting pitcher Marcus Phillips is officially a member of the Boston Red Sox as the 6-foot-4, 246-punder signed his first professional contract with the organization on Sunday after being selected with the No. 33 overall pick.

Phillips signed for $2.5 million, according to MLB.com’s Jim Callis. The slot value assigned to the pick was $2,898,300. His selection was the second pitcher in the first round for the Vols, setting a new program record, and the fourth overall (Liam Doyle, Gavin Kilen & Andrew Fischer) – which also set a new program record as the 2007 trio of J.P Arencibia, Julio Borbon and James Adkins previously held the mark.

Phillips moved into the starting rotation as a junior with the Vols in 2025, making 17 starts with a 3.90 ERA and a 4-5 overall record. He tossed 83.0 innings on the year – second on the team to Liam Doyle – with 98 strikeouts to 34 walks. Opponents tallied a .239 clip against the 6-foot-4, 245-pound native from Sioux Falls, S.D. The slot value assigned to this pick is $2,898,300.

The hurler tossed a seven-inning gem against Florida on March 15 where he allowed no runs. He struck out a career-high eight batters on four occasions, most recently against Cincinnati in the Knoxville Regional.

His first season with Tennessee in 2024 – fresh out of junior college – Phillips appeared in 19 games, making two starts, with a 4.95 ERA across 20.0 innings pitched. He struck out 22 and walked 15 batters throughout his first season of Southeastern Conference play.  

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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