As the Minor League Baseball season is winding down, and the regular seasons for the Rookie, Single-A, High-A, and Double-A levels have ended, it's time to take a look at how the Vols selected in the 2023 MLB Draft fared in their first taste of professional baseball.
The first two Vols selected in the MLB Draft, pitcher Chase Dollander (Rockies first-round pick) and shortstop Maui Ahuna (Giants fourth-round pick) did not play in the minor leagues this season.
Andrew Lindsey, RHP, Marlins (5th-round pick)
Lindsey, one of the breakout stars on the 2023 Vols College World Series team, shot up draft boards all through the season and was selected by the Miami Marlins with the 146th overall pick in the draft. With 71.1 innings pitched in the college season, and the majority of those coming towards the back half of the season, it appeared the Marlins did not want to add much more wear and tear on Lindsey's arm this year. Lindsey appeared in 2 games for the Rookie level FCL Marlins, pitching 4.1 innings with 2 strikeouts while allowing 4 runs on 6 hits.
With Lindsey's experience on the mound, he will likely start the 2024 campaign in Single-A or High-A for the Marlins organization.
Seth Halvorsen, RHP, Rockies (7th-round pick)
Seth Halvorsen was one of the most important pieces on Tennessee's pitching staff in 2023, and he was able to parlay that success into becoming the 202nd selection in the MLB Draft. The Rockies let the 23-year-old get to work right away, as he appeared in 2 games for the Rookie level ACL Rockies before earning a call-up to the High-A Spokane Indians. After 5 appearances with Spokane, Halvorsen then joined former Vols teammate Jordan Beck with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, where he appeared in 6 games. Seth finished the year with 2.70 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 13.1 innings pitched.
After proving he could hold his own in Double-A, Halvorsen will likely continue to see action in the upper levels of the minors in 2024.
Jared Dickey, OF/C, Royals (11th-round pick)
Dickey was one of the most consistent hitters for the Vols in 2023, and his clutch hitting in the Hattiesburg Super Regional helped the Vols return to the College World Series. However, he slid a lot further than almost everyone thought in the draft, and the Royals picked him up in the 11th round and gave him a signing bonus with fourth round value. The decision immediately looked good for the Royals, as Dickey hit .330/.425/.453 with a .878 OPS, 9 extra-base hits, 20 RBIs, 14 walks, and only 13 strikeouts in 32 games with the Rookie level ACL Royals and Single-A Columbia Fireflies.
After dominating Single-A pitching, Dickey will likely start the 2024 season in High-A, and has the chance to get up to Double-A.
Zach Joyce, RHP, Angels (14th-round pick)
Zach Joyce figured to be an integral member of the Tennessee bullpen in 2023, but an elbow injury in April cut his college season short. After the college season ended, the Farragut alum went up to the Cape Cod League and impressed, and the Los Angeles Angels decided to select him with the 414th pick in the draft. The Angels assigned Zach to Single-A Inland Empire 66ers, where he posted a 2.53 ERA and 9 strikeouts in 10.2 innings.
The Angels have a reputation for fast-tracking prospects in recent years, so it's difficult to predict where Zach may start next year. However, there's a chance that he could return to East Tennessee to play the Tennessee Smokies or Chattanooga Lookouts as a member of the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas in 2024.
Jake Fitzgibbons, LHP, Diamondbacks (14th round)
Directly after the Angels selected Zach Joyce, the Arizona Diamondbacks turned around and selected southpaw Jake Fitzgibbons with the 415th pick in the draft. Fitzgibbons pitched only 27.2 innings in 3 years on Rocky Top, but when he got the opportunities, he showed elite spin rates and nasty off-speed pitches. He pitched in 7 games between the Rookie level ACL Diamondbacks and Single-A Visalia Rawhide, posting a 5.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 9 innings. Fitzgibbons was then assigned to the High-A Hillsboro Hops, where he was placed on the injured list before playing a game.
Fitzgibbons showed a lot of potential in limited action, and the high ERA number can be directly attributed to one rough appearance. He will likely start 2024 in High-A, where he was assigned before landing on the injured list before the end of the season.
Bryce Jenkins, RHP, Mets (17th round)
Bryce's draft year was very similar to Zach Joyce's, as he pitched 16.1 innings for the Vols in 2023, and decided to head to the Cape Cod League to further showcase his ability. After allowing only 1 hit in 4 games, the Mets selected the Hardin Valley Academy alum with the 516th pick in the draft. Jenkins saw limited action with the Mets, where he pitched 4 innings with a 4 strikeouts and 4 runs allowed between the Rookie level FCL Mets and the Single-A St. Lucie Mets.
Jenkins will likely start 2024 in Single-A, and has the opportunity to get up to High-A quickly.
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