What to expect from Tennessee baseball, Chase Dollander in 2023 MLB Draft
Tennessee baseball is roaring toward another impressive MLB Draft class.
The Vols, who had a program-record 10 players picked in the 2022 MLB Draft, likely will have a first-rounder among a stout list of early round candidates.
Here is what to expect from Tennessee in the 2023 MLB Draft:
Chase Dollander is set to be Tony Vitello's fourth first-rounder at Tennessee
Chase Dollander is a potential top-10 pick after two strong seasons with the Vols. He is ranked the No. 9 prospect by MLB.com after going 7-6 with a 4.75 ERA with 120 strikeouts in 79 innings.
Dollander went 10-0 with a 2.39 ERA in 2022 after transferring from Georgia Southern. He struck out 108 in 79 innings and was named the SEC pitcher of the year.
Tennessee had two first-rounders in 2022 in outfielders Drew Gilbert and Jordan Beck. Pitcher Garrett Crochet was picked in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft.
The Vols could have five in five rounds
Dollander is the headliner, but the Vols could mirror their 2022 success by having five players taken in the first few rounds.
Shortstop Maui Ahuna and outfielder Jared Dickey are Tennessee's best bets to be drafted high on the offensive side. Ahuna is ranked No. 48 and Dickey is No. 115. Ahuna (.312, 29 extra-base hits) is likely a high draft pick for his defensive profile. Dickey (.328, 12 HRs, 52 RBIs) is a steady hitter with power potential.
Andrew Lindsey (3-4, 2.90 ERA) should be taken in the first few rounds after rising into the Game 1 starter spot for Tennessee. He is the No. 172 prospect. Seth Halvorsen (3-3, 3.81 ERA) could go early as a hard-throwing bullpen arm.
UT had five players selected in the first three rounds of the 2022 MLB Draft.
Other players who could be picked include pitchers Aaron Combs and Hollis Fanning and third baseman Zane Denton.
What will Wofford transfer Ryan Galanie do?
Ryan Galanie is committed to Tennessee as a transfer from Wofford. But the 2023 SoCon Player of the Year also is a significant MLB Draft risk and might not make it to Knoxville. He is likely to be picked in the first 10 rounds.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Galanie hit .383 with 17 homers and 66 RBIs last season. He hit .339 in four seasons with the Terriers and hit 34 homers in the past two seasons. He profiles as a slugging, middle-of-the-order bat for the Vols and can play a handful of positions.
A pair of UT transfer commitments turned professional in the 2022 MLB Draft in two-way player Reggie Crawford and catcher Jack Alexander. Crawford was a first-round pick by the San Francisco Giants, while Alexander signed a free-agent deal with the Kansas City Royals.
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Who could be drafted from the recruiting class?
Tennessee's signing class has four players ranked in the top 250 of the MLB.com rankings.
Carson Rucker, the younger brother of former Vols infielder Jake Rucker, is the highest-ranked incoming prospect. The Goodpasture Christian School shortstop is No. 132 in the draft rankings. Dean Curley, ranked No. 244, is a physical shortstop from California who has the skill set to contribute early at UT.
Pitchers Matthew Dallas and Derek Schaefer are highly regarded arms. Dallas, a 6-foot-5, left-handed pitcher from Briarcrest Christian in Memphis, throws in the low-90s and has good offspeed pitches. Derek Schaefer is a mid-90s right-handed pitcher.
Brayden Sharp is a top lefty arm from Texas, who has touched 96 on the mound but is a two-way prospect. Junior-college infielder Bradke Lohry is a probable pick from Wabash Valley College. Junior-college shortstop Alex Perry and high school pitcher Bryson Thacker are draft risks as well.
Dallas and Curley both are eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft if they opt to attend Tennessee.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee baseball, Chase Dollander headed for big 2023 MLB Draft
