Evan Blanco, a right‑handed starter who spent a single season with the Tennessee Volunteers, has been selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 13th round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
A Significant Draft Milestone
Blanco’s journey to the professional ranks was marked by a transition from Virginia, where he honed his craft before joining the Vols. In his lone season in Knoxville he posted a 4.65 earned run average and compiled a 7‑4 record, numbers that helped him earn All‑ACC Third‑Team honors in 2024.
A native of Woburn, Massachusetts, Blanco brings a blend of regional roots and collegiate experience that reflects the growing diversity of talent in the SEC. He attended Austin Preparatory School before his collegiate career.
Tennessee’s Pitching Presence in the Draft
The draft has seen five of the six Tennessee players selected this year be pitchers, underscoring the program’s strength on the mound. Alongside Blanco, teammates such as Tegan Kuhns, Henry Ford, Bo Rhudy, Garrett Wright and Brandon Arvidson have all been drafted, with Kuhns and Blanco among the three starters chosen.
Landon Mack, another standout, is slated to return to the University of Tennessee for another season, while Arvidson’s role as a bullpen piece complemented Rhudy’s starting duties. The breadth of talent drafted highlights the depth of the Vols’ roster.
The Athletics join a list of MLB clubs that have shown interest in Tennessee’s recent output, reflecting a broader trend of teams scouting the SEC for high‑impact arms. The draft selections also illustrate the continued pipeline from college baseball to the major leagues.