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Tennessee

Seth Halvorsen selected by the Colorado Rockies in seventh round

On3 imageby: Eric Cain07/10/23_Cainer
Seth Halvorsen
Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee right-handed pitcher Seth Halvorsen has been selected by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft with the 202nd overall pick.

Halvorsen, who was a former two-way player at Missouri, links up with fellow pitcher Chase Dollander – who was taken by the Rockies with the ninth overall pick. Outfielder Jordan Beck was also taken by the organization in the first round of the 2022 draft.

Like teammate Andrew Lindsey, it was comeback season for Halvorsen as he missed the entirety of 2022 with injury after coming over from Missouri, where he was the former Friday night guy. The hurler was good enough to be in the weekend rotation but instead was one of Tennessee’s best bullpen arms this season, contributing a 3-3 record and 3.81 ERA over 25 appearances with one brilliant start in the SEC Tournament. Halvorsen struck out 52 batters across 52 innings pitched with 16 walks.

The right-handed pitcher joins teammate Chase Dollander, Maui Ahuna and Andrew Lindsey as Tennessee players drafted thus far in the 2023 MLB Draft.  According to Jim Callis at MLB.com, Halvorsen’s 202nd pick is slotted at $263,200.

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
RHP Andrew Lindsey – Marlins- Round 5, 146th overall pick
RHP Seth Halvorsen – Rockies – Round 7, 202nd overall pick

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

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