The Chicago White Sox selected Tennessee right-handed pitcher Aaron Combs with the fourth pick in the eighth round (No. 229 overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft on Monday afternoon.
Combs spent two seasons in Knoxville after transferring in from the College of Central Florida. After serving as a right-handed strikeout specialist in 2023, Combs emerged as one of Tennessee baseball’s best relief pitchers in the 2024 season.
During the Vols’ 2024 National Championship campaign, Combs posted a 3-1 record, 3.35 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 45.1 innings pitched. Combs tied for the team-lead with six saves last season while ranking third in ERA and WHIP amongst qualified pitchers.
More From RTI: Where Tennessee Baseball Signees Were Selected In The 2024 MLB Draft
The Sarasota, Florida native’s most notable save came in game three of the College World Series finals against Texas A&M. While Combs allowed two runs in one inning pitched, the tying run never reached base while Combs struck out three batters to secure the championship. Combs also recorded the save in Tennessee baseball’s SEC Tournament Championship clinching victory over LSU.
In five appearances in the NCAA Tournament, Combs allowed six earned runs in 11 innings pitched good for a 4.90 ERA. The right-handed pitcher’s emergence in the middle of SEC play helped solidify a thin Tennessee pitching staff and raised the Vols’ ceiling.
The junior right-handed pitcher is the eighth Tennessee baseball player off the board in the 2024 MLB Draft joining second baseman Christian Moore, third baseman Billy Amick, first baseman Blake Burke, outfielder Dylan Dreiling, right-handed pitcher Drew Beam, outfielder Kavares Tears and right-handed pitcher AJ Causey.
Stay tuned to RockyTopInsider.com over the next two days for complete coverage of the Vols’ in the 2024 MLB Draft.
