2025 MLB Draft Profile: Gavin Kilen

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 has had a very successful year to establish himself as one of the best pure-hitting collegiate bats in the 2025 MLB Draft class.

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 that year. However, he 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). He slashed .265/.321/.338 with 40 hits, nine doubles, one triple, 18 RBIs, and ten walks.

Kilen had a breakout sophomore season as Louisville’s everyday shortstop, slashing .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 took another step forward, 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 a first team All-SEC selection.

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 fastballs. While Kilen added power to his game, his skillset is still more hit-over-power. He has hit for average in the Cape Cod League, but hasn’t shown much thump with a wood bat.

On defense, Kilen is a quality second baseman. He has great hands and quick instincts, but lacks arm strength. Kilen is unlikely to profile as a shortstop 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

Weaknesses

• Below-average power tool
• Limited defensively

Pro Comparison: Gavin Lux

Projection: Top 20 pick

Bottom Line

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 this year based on what the board gives them, Gavin Kilen might be an underslot value option.

More 2025 Draft Profiles

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• 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