Tennessee Vols' Gavin Kilen projected to land a huge payday from the team that drafted him years ago

Life's a funny old dog sometimes, and it could be a pricey one for Tennessee Vols infielder Gavin Kilen come Sunday, when the Major League Baseball draft gets underway in Atlanta to kick off MLB All-Star week festivities. 

Kilen has found himself in position to be a top 15 draft pick after a sensational season for the Big Orange in 2025. Despite missing time with a nagging hamstring injury during the season, Kilen hit .357 with 15 home runs, 48 RBIs, and an OPS of .1112. 

Now, Kilen stands to go well within the first round of the draft this weekend, and several pundits are projecting a reunion with the team that drafted him in 2022 - the Boston Red Sox.  The BoSox took Kilen in the 13th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, which wasn't high enough to entice him to forego college and enter the professional ranks.  Kilen went on to Louisville, where he spent two years before going to Knoxville. 

Suffice to say, Kilen bet on himself and won big.  13th round picks are beyond the bonus pool system, which goes through round 10.  Players taken after the 10th round can be signed for a bonus for up to $150,000 without it counting against the team's bonus pool. In other words, not much money compared to what Kilen stands to make in 2025.  The 15th slot in this year's draft has a value of $5,114,200. Quite the difference. 

We'll find out if Kilen heads to the Red Sox organization - or elsewhere - as a much richer man when the draft begins Sunday at 6:00 pm ET in the Peach State.