2025 MLB Draft Profile: Gavin Kilen

[Hector Rodriguez]

First Team All-SEC infielder Gavin Kilen is having a huge junior season in his first year with the Tennessee Volunteers. Could this talented pure hitter be on Miami's radar with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft? 

First Team All-SEC infielder Gavin Kilen is having a huge junior season in his first year with the Tennessee Volunteers. Could this talented pure hitter be on Miami's radar with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft? 

 

Overview

Position: 2B

Height: 5’11″

Weight: 185 pounds

School: Tennessee

FOF Big Board Rank: 15th

Gavin Kilen is a 5’11”, 185-pound second baseman who plays for the University of Tennessee Volunteers. Kilen is one of the best pure-hitting collegiate bats in the 2025 MLB Draft class. He’s having a very successful year in his first season playing for the Volunteers.

Kilen was a blue-chip prospect coming out of Milton High School in Milton, Wisconsin. Kilen was a Perfect Game All-American and the #1 prospect in Wisconsin. He was also the 55th-ranked prospect and ninth-ranked shortstop in the Class of 2022. Kilen was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. However, Kilen decided to honor his commitment to the University of Louisville.

In his freshman season, Kilen played in 46 games and started in 38 of them (30 at second base and 8 at shortstop). Kilen slashed .265/.321/.338 with 40 hits, nine doubles, one triple, 18 RBIs, and ten walks.

In his sophomore season, Kilen had a breakout season as Louisville’s everyday shortstop. Kilen slashed .330/.361/.591 with 71 hits, 23 doubles, nine home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .952 OPS. He was also named to the All-ACC Third Team. After the 2024 season, Kilen entered the Transfer Portal and signed with the Tennessee Volunteers.

In his first season at Tennessee, Kilen had another breakout season, showing his power potential against some of the best pitchers in the country. On the season, Kilen is slashing .355/.437/.694 with 65 hits, eleven doubles, three triples, fifteen home runs, 43 RBIs, 25 walks, and a 1.131 OPS. He was also named First Team All-SEC.

At the plate, Kilen has a short, compact swing that consistently makes quality contact at pitches in the zone. Earlier this season, Kilen had a 93% in-zone contact percentage, and it improved to 95% for in-zone fastball contact percentage. While Kilen added more power to his game, his skillset is more suited for a hit-over-power profile. He has hit for average in the Cape Cod League, but hasn’t shown much power with a wood bat.

On defense, Kilen is a quality defensive second baseman who has the skillset to play shortstop at the next level. He’s a great hands and quick instincts, but doesn’t possess great arm strength. Kilen likely profiles as a second baseman at the next level.

Similar to Fish On First, the Wisconsin native is ranked #16 on MLB Pipeline and #18 on Baseball America.

 

Strengths

• 60-grade hit tool
• Clean swing mechanics
• Improved BB%
• Career 9.8 K%
• Adjusted his swing to lift the ball more consistently

 

Weakness

• Below-average power tool
• Limited defensively

 

Pro Comparison: Gavin Lux

Projection: Top 20 pick

 

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Bottom Line

The Marlins will have the seventh overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Kilen is one of the best hitters in college baseball this season.

The Louisville transfer had a huge season for the Volunteers and should be an early-to-mid first round draft pick. The Marlins have taken high school prospects with their first pick in the past two drafts. However, if Miami decides to go in a different direction or their top options are off the board, Kilen might be an underslot value option for the Fish.

 

More 2025 Draft Profiles

• SS Joseph "JoJo" Parker
• INF Aiva Arquette
• SS Billy Carlson
• OF Jace LaViolette
• LHP Liam Doyle
• INF Kayson Cunningham
• SS Eli Willits
• SS Marek Houston
• RHP Seth Hernandez
• 3B Xavier Neyens
• OF Brendan Summerhill

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