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Tennessee

Nate Snead selected by Angels in third round of MLB Draft

On3 imageby: Eric Cain07/14/25_Cainer
Nate Snead. Credit: Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Nate Snead. Credit: Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tennessee junior right-handed pitcher Nate Snead was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the third round with the No. 105 overall pick in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft. The flame-thrower was a draft-eligible junior who spent two seasons on Rocky Top after beginning his collegiate career at Wichita State.

The slot value of the No. 105 pick is $729.60k.

Snead was one of the more frequent used arms – in a variety of roles – for the Volunteers each of the past two seasons. In total from the 2024 and 2025 campaigns, Snead combined to go 14-4 on the mound with a 3.67 ERA across 125 innings pitched with 102 strikeouts, 47 walks and 11 saves.

He was one of the heroes for the national champions in 2024, going 10-2 on the mound with a 3.11 ERA across 75.1 innings in 29 appearances – all but one out of the bullpen. Snead locked down six saves, struck out 61 batters and walked 26 – proving to be one the of best transfer portal additions in the entire country.

As a senior this past year, the hurler appeared in 23 games with one start, combining to post a 4-2 record with a 4.53 ERA in 49.2 innings of work. Snead was a USA Baseball Collegiate National Team participant last summer and was named to the 2025 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch list in 2025.   

Scouting Report from MLB.com

Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

“Snead pushed his fastball to 97 mph as a Wisconsin high schooler but battled the strike zone, so he went undrafted in 2022 and headed to Wichita State. He transferred to Tennessee in 2024 and led the national champions with six saves, earning one in the penultimate game of the College World Series finals and a hold in the clincher. He has remained in the bullpen as a junior but could get a chance to start in pro ball.

Snead owns one of the hottest fastballs in college baseball, usually dealing at 95-97 mph with the capability of reaching 101. His heater is more powerful than lively, featuring more sink than carry, so it can get whacked when he doesn’t locate it well. His low-90s cutter has similar issues, and he has had more success retiring hitters this season with a much improved low-80s curveball.

Unusual for a pitcher who has worked primarily in relief, Snead has five offerings in his arsenal, though his mid-80s slider has regressed this spring and he doesn’t have much trust in his low-90s changeup with mild fade. He uses a slingy delivery with a low three-quarters slot that doesn’t prevent him from providing strikes but may limit him to no better than average command. If he can’t develop the finesse to make it as a starter, he could be a late-inning reliever, especially if he can improve the movement profile on his fastball.”

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