Signing bonuses for Tennessee baseball players, recruits in 2026 MLB Draft
· Yahoo Sports
Tennessee baseball had six players and five signees picked in the 2026 MLB Draft, and they’ve been agreeing to contracts since to make their transitions to the professional ranks official.
The Vols were not expected to retain any of the players drafted, so all will sign with teams if they haven’t already. Two incoming transfers, pitcher Jake McCoy and outfielder Andrew Duncan, were picked in the late rounds but will play for Tennessee next season.
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All of Tennessee’s incoming freshmen that were selected have already signed with their respective MLB organizations for a combined value of $16,193,100 in signing bonuses.
The deadline for drafted players to sign is July 27 at 5 p.m.
Here are the signing bonuses for Tennessee’s drafted players and signees:
Tennessee players selected in 2026 MLB Draft
Tegan Kuhns, pitcher
Drafted: St. Louis Cardinals, Round 1 (No. 32 overall)
Pick value: $3,044,600
Signing bonus: $3,044,600
What to know: The right-hander signed for the exact slot value of the No. 32 overall pick. College players tend to be cheaper than high schoolers, although Kuhns was younger than most as a draft-eligible sophomore.
Henry Ford, utility
Drafted:Seattle Mariners, Round 6 (No. 191 overall)
Pick value: $335,900
Signing bonus:$335,900
What to know: Ford, like Kuhns, signed for the value of his draft selection. He wasn't selected in last year's draft and would have been a senior if he came back to college, lessening his leverage.
Bo Rhudy, pitcher
Drafted: Philadelphia Phillies, Round 7 (No. 219 overall)
Slot value: $267,800
Signing bonus: $265,300
What to know: Rhudy's deal was just below slot value. He could have returned to college for his senior year, but it would've been a risk, not to mention that deals in the first 10 rounds are usually negotiated beforehand to ensure picks aren't wasted.
Garrett Wright, utility
Drafted: Los Angeles Angels, Round 8 (No. 229 overall)
Slot value: $249,300
Signing bonus: TBA
What to know: Wright is the only member of Tennessee's draft class yet to sign but is expected to. Last year, only two of the 311 players taken in the first 10 rounds didn't sign.
Brandon Arvidson, pitcher
Drafted: Chicago Cubs, Round 12 (No. 367 overall)
Slot value: $150,000
Signing bonus: $150,000
What to know: All draft picks after the 10th round have a value of $150,000, and Arvidson signed for exactly that much. After forgoing the draft in 2025 to return to Tennessee, the upside of a potential return to college was minimal.
Evan Blanco, pitcher
Drafted: Athletics, Round 13 (No. 381 overall)
Slot value: $150,000
Signing bonus: $75,000
What to know: Blanco is out of college eligibility and had to sign for half of his pick's value, allowing the Athletics to free up some money elsewhere.
Tennessee signees selected in 2026 MLB Draft
Jared Grindlinger, outfielder
Drafted: Los Angeles Angels, Round 1 (No. 12 overall)
Pick value: $5,889,300
Signing bonus: $5,889,300
What to know: Grindlinger was the highest draft pick from Tennessee’s recruiting class and signed with the Angels the exact slot value of the No. 12 pick. He was a two-way prospect but was drafted as an outfielder.
Trevor Condon, outfielder
Drafted: St. Louis Cardinals, Round 1 (No. 13 overall)
Pick value: $5,661,300
Signing bonus: $5,161,300
What to know: Condon signed for slightly under the No. 13 overall pick’s slot value. Some of those savings went to second-round pick Rocco Maniscalco, a high school shortstop who signed over $1 million above his slot value.
Kaiden McCarthy, pitcher
Drafted:Atlanta Braves, Round 2 (No. 48 overall)
Pick value: $2,081,900
Signing bonus:$2,497,500
What to know: McCarthy’s signing bonus was hefty to ensure Vermont's highest-ever draftee wouldn’t consider college. The Braves were able to afford it after saving nearly $2.7 million with first-round pick AJ Gracia.
Tyler Putnam, pitcher
Drafted:Colorado Rockies, Round 5 (No. 136 overall)
Pick value: $553,100
Signing bonus:$1,897,500
What to know: Putnam signed a major over-slot deal. The right-hander's signing bonus was more than many second-round picks as the Rockies had to pay a premium to keep him from going to college.
Cody Boshell, first baseman
Drafted:Arizona Diamondbacks, Round 11 (No. 326 overall)
Pick value: $150,000
Signing bonus:$750,000
What to know: Boshell is another example of a high school prospect requiring a larger signing bonus. Arizona had some extra money to afford him after saving some in the first 10 rounds.
Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; X: @EmmettSiegel_
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Signing bonuses for Tennessee baseball players, recruits in 2026 MLB Draft