The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Tennessee relief pitcher Will Mabrey with 168th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft Monday. Mabrey was the sixth Vol selected in this year’s draft going in the sixth round of the 20-round draft.
After earning limited innings as a freshman and sophomore, Mabrey broke out as one of Tennessee’s top relief pitchers in the 2022 season.
Taken with the second pick of the sixth round, Mabrey’s pick value is $317,100. The Cookeville, Tennessee native will likely begin his professional career and forgo his final two seasons of eligibility in Knoxville.
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Mabrey’s breakout junior season was a product of a number of factors including the addition of a cutter/slider. The left-handed pitcher could manipulate the grip on the breaking ball allowing him to throw it at different speeds with different breaks while looking the same out of his hands.
Mabrey was the second most used arm out of Tennessee’s bullpen in 2022, posting a 2-0 record and 2.63 ERA in 41 innings pitched.
The “Volunteer State” native’s Tennessee career was full of adversity including the death of his brother. Arizona’s selection of the left-hander moves him a step closer to fulfilling a promise he made to his brother.
Mabrey joins Drew Gilbert, Jordan Beck, Blade Tidwell, Trey Lipscomb and Ben Joyce as Tennessee players selected in the 2022 MLB Draft.
