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Zander Sechrist to sign undrafted free agent deal with the Minnesota Twins

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey07/16/24GrantRamey
Zander Sechrist, Tennessee
Zander Sechrist, Tennessee - © Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Tennessee Baseball senior left-handed pitcher Zander Sechrist plans to sign with the Minnesota Twins after not being selected in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft, sources tell Volquest.

Sechrist was Tennessee’s big-game pitcher on the way to winning the national championship. He started Game 3 of the College World Series Final against Texas A&M, giving up just one run on six hits over 5.1 innings.

He pitched 6.1 innings against Florida State five days earlier, giving up two runs on five hits. He pitched 6.1 innings in the Knoxville Super Regional against Evansville, too, giving up just one run on six hits. 

Sechrist had a 6-1 record with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He started 19 times in his 20 appearances, giving up 31 runs (27 earned) with 76 strikeouts against 16 walks. He gave up five doubles and 12 home runs while opposing batters hit .253 against him.

Vols set program record with four picks in first two rounds 

Tennessee on Sunday night set a new program record with four players selected during the first two rounds of the MLB Draft.

Christian Moore was the No. 8 overall pick to the Los Angeles Angels and Blake Burke went at No. 34 overall to the Milwaukee Brewers, giving Tennessee two first-round picks for the second time in the last three years.

The Vols now have 20 first-round picks in program history, with Tony Vitello responsible for five.

Billy Amick was the No. 60 overall pick to the Minnesota Twins and Dylan Dreiling went No. 65 overall to the Texas Rangers. 

Drew Beam (Royals, 3rd round), Kavares Tears (Padres, 4th round), AJ Causey (Royals, 5th round) and Aaron Combs (White Sox, 8th round) were picked on day two of the draft.

Tennessee’s previous MLB Draft history during the Tony Vitello era

Right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander went No. 9 overall to the Colorado Rockies a year ago, one of eight Tennessee players drafted. 

Outfielder Drew Gilbert and third baseman Jordan Beck were both first-round picks in 2022, when a Tennessee record 10 players were drafted. Gilbert went at No. 28 overall to the Houston Astros while Beck went No. 38 to the Rockies.

Seven players were drafted in 2021 and three players were picked in the 2020 draft, which was limited to five rounds during the COVID pandemic. 

Left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet was the No. 11 overall pick to the Chicago White Sox in the 2020 MLB Draft and on Sunday was named to the MLB All-Star game. He the majors in strikeouts (146) in his first season as a starter.

Tennessee had eight players drafted in 2018 and 2019, with two players picked in 2018 and six selected in 2019.

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