The Houston Astros selected Tennessee center fielder Drew Gilbert with the 28th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft Sunday night.
Gilbert is the first Vol selected in this year’s draft and is the first Tennessee player selected in the first round since the Chicago White Sox drafted Garrett Crochet with the 11th pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
The Stillwater, Minnesota native started his collegiate career as a two-way player before developing into a centerfielder only.
The emotional leader of Tennessee’s baseball program, Gilbert provided an abundance of big hits as a sophomore including walk off home runs against LSU and his career defining walk off grand slam against Wright State in the NCAA Regionals.
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Gilbert was good as a sophomore, but developed into one of the SEC’s best players in his junior season. Improving his hard contact rate, strikeout rate and batting average, Gilbert hit .362 with 11 home runs and 70 RBIs in his final collegiate season.
The fantastic defensive centerfielder earned First Team All-SEC honors during the regular season and had an eventful postseason. Gilbert earned SEC Tournament MVP honors in the Vols title run before getting ejected from game one of the Knoxville Super Regional.
It’s going to be an eventful three-day MLB Draft for Tennessee baseball and the Vols have a chance break its program record for most draft selections. Here’s everything you need to know about Tennessee’s draft projections. Stay tuned at Rocky Top Insider for updates throughout the 20-round draft.
