Giants draft .357 hitter out of SEC as infielder of the future

The San Francisco Giants couldn't spell incorrect by picking Gavin Kilen astatine No. 13 wide successful nan 2025 MLB Draft.

The University of Tennessee infielder tin deed and has proven it astatine nan SEC level.

In his last spring, he batted .357 and deed 15 homers.

"Kilen displayed immoderate of nan champion bat-to-ball skills successful nan 2022 precocious schoolhouse people but slid to nan Red Sox successful nan 13th information because he was group connected attending Louisville," MLB.com writes. "He spent 2 years pinch nan Cardinals, boosting his OPS from .659 arsenic a freshman 2nd baseman to .952 arsenic a sophomore shortstop earlier deciding to transportation to Tennessee. He slid backmost complete to 2nd this outpouring while establishing himself arsenic 1 of nan champion hitters successful nan Southeastern Conference. With outstanding hand-eye coordination, a speedy left-handed plaything and consciousness for nan barrel, Kilen continues to excel arsenic a interaction hitter. He tends to plaything excessively often and pursuit breaking pitches, sometimes putting pitches successful play without overmuch authority and seldom drafting walks. He has shown much powerfulness pinch nan Volunteers but whitethorn not person much than mean earthy pop, and while his hitting expertise should alteration him to get to astir of it, he has yet to beryllium he tin thrust balls successful nan aerial pinch wood bats. Kilen's skills guidelines retired much than his tools, pinch his velocity and limb spot some grading arsenic average. He has bully actions and instincts but nan crippled speeds up connected him and his limb is simply a spot stretched astatine shortstop. He's a coagulated defender astatine 2nd guidelines and could create successful a akin manner to chap Wisconsin prep merchandise Gavin Lux."

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If nan Giants extremity up pinch an balanced to Gavin Lux astatine this spot, that's a win.

Kilen is astir apt a mates years distant from nan majors, but San Francisco hasn't really solved its mediate infield lately.

They will surely look guardant to his presence pinch immoderate enthusiasm.

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