Maui Ahuna drafted by Giants in fourth round of MLB Draft

Tennessee shortstop Maui Ahuna has been selected in the 2023 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants in the fourth round with pick 117th overall.

Ahuna was considered one of the top-transfer portal additions of the offseason, coming to Knoxville by way of Kansas after his sophomore campaign. He was slow out of the gate offensively, but ended the season with the second-highest batting average on the team (.312) and easily led the Vols with 20 doubles. Ahuna will strikeout a lot at the plate, but still has a ton of upside on the offensive end. His glove, however, is the key component as he mans the shortstop position with ease.

The shortstop joins fellow teammate Chase Dollander as Vols drafted thus far. According to Jim Callis at MLB.com, Ahuna’s 117th pick is slotted at $569,100

4 (117): @SFGiants select Tennessee (TN) SS Maui Ahuna https://t.co/LWLLuNoO3R #MLBDraft

— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) July 10, 2023

Vols in the 2023 MLB Draft

RHP Chase Dollander – Rockies – Round 1, 9th overall
3B Carson Rucker (commit) – Tigers – Round 4, 107th overall
SS Maui Ahuna – Giants – round 4, 117th overall

Tennessee #Vols shortstop Maui Ahuna is off the board as the Giants take him in the fourth round of the #MLBDraft https://t.co/ujIg1Ay0qX

— Volquest Staff (@Volquest_On3) July 10, 2023

MLB Draft Vols in the Tony Vitello Era

Entering this year’s draft, there had been 28 players drafted by Major League Baseball organizations during the Tony Vitello tenure, one that started in the spring of 2018. Tennessee had a program-record 10 players drafted in 2022 with two first rounders, Drew Gilbert (Astros, pick 28) and Jordan Beck (Rockies, pick 38 in Competitive Balance Round A). Two Tennessee players who have been drafted under Vitello are currently in the Major Leagues – Ben Joyce (2022), Garrett Crochet (2020).

Overall, the Volunteers have boasted 183 draft picks all-time with 55 players reaching the show. Prior to Chase Dollander (2023), the Vols had sported 20 total first round selections.

Vitello is coming off his second College World Series appearance in the past three seasons as head coach of the Volunteers. Tennessee broke a 22-year Omaha winless streak with its 6-4 victory over Stanford on June 19, a win that snapped a six-game losing streak on the stage. The Vols capped the 2022 campaign with a 44-22 record and Tennessee is the only team in college baseball to average 50 wins over the past three seasons.

Here’s a list of players who have been drafted after being coached by Tony Vitello at Tennessee (entering the 2023 draft).

2022 – Drew Gilbert – Round 1, Astros
2022 – Jordan Beck – Round 1, Rockies
2022 – Blade Tidwell – Round 2, Mets
2022 – Trey Lipscomb – Round 3, Nationals      
2022 – Ben Joyce – Round 3, Angels
2022 – Will Mabrey – Round 6, Diamondbacks
2022 – Jorel Ortega – Round 6, Twins
2022 – Seth Stephenson – Round 7, Tigers
2022 – Mark McLaughlin – Round 7, White Sox
2022 – Cortland Lawson – Round 14, Nationals
2021 – Chad Dallas – Round 4, Blue Jays
2021 – Liam Spence – Round 5, Cubs
2021 – Max Ferguson – Round 5, Padres
2021 – Connor Pavolony – Round 7, Orioles
2021 – Jake Rucker – Round 7, Twins
2021 – Jackson Leath – Round 12, Rangers
2021 – Sean Hunley – Round 19, Rays
2020 – Garrett Crochet – Round 1, White Sox
2020 – Alerick Soularie – Round 2, Twins
2020 – Zach Daniels – Round 4, Astros
2019 – Andre Lipcius – Round 3, Tigers
2019 – Garrett Stallings – Round 5, Angels
2019 – Andrew Schultz – Round 6, Phillies
2019 – Zach Linginfelter – Round 9, Angels
2019 – Ricky Martinez – Round 18, Diamondbacks
2019 – Jay Charleston – Round 26, Royals
2018 – Zach Linginfelter – Round 19, Nationals
2018 – Benito Santiago – Round 34, Cardinals