Cardinals Acquire Key Pitcher
St. Louis Cardinals Select Tennessee Pitcher Tegan Kuhns in MLB Competitive Balance Round A
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The St. Louis Cardinals selected Tennessee pitcher Tegan Kuhns in the Competitive Balance Round A of the 2026 MLB Draft, adding one of college baseball's most efficient arms to their system. Knoxville News Sentinel reported that Kuhns posted a 3.56 ERA across 81 innings this season, striking out 106 batters while walking just 16.
Kuhns becomes the fourth Tennessee pitcher drafted in the first round in the last seven seasons. His selection also marks the fifth straight year a Volunteers player has been taken within the top 35 picks, according to The Tennessean.
Kuhns Dominated the SEC With Elite Control
Kuhns earned All-SEC second-team honors as a sophomore and was Tennessee's top starting pitcher in 2025. His numbers stand out in a tough conference. He struck out 106 batters in 81 innings. That works out to nearly 12 strikeouts per nine innings.
His walk rate is even more impressive. Just 16 walks all season gives him a strikeout-to-walk ratio near 6.6-to-1. That kind of control is rare for a college pitcher. It suggests he could move quickly through the minor leagues, according to Yahoo Sports.
Why Cardinals Took Kuhns After Already Picking at No. 13
St. Louis used their first-round pick at No. 13 overall on Trevor Condon. Then they grabbed Kuhns in Competitive Balance Round A. That round gives smaller-market teams extra picks. It sits just after the first round in draft order.
Taking two college pitchers early shows what St. Louis wants: ready-now arms that don't need years of development. Kuhns fits that mold. His advanced command means he could reach the big leagues faster than a raw high school arm, Jackson Sun noted.
The Risks: Small Frame and Unproven Stuff
Kuhns is not without red flags. His fastball velocity is not elite. He relies on location and movement more than pure power. At the big-league level, that approach gets tested hard. Hitters are much better at punishing pitches that don't miss bats with speed.
There are also questions about his frame and whether he can hold up as a starter over a full professional season. Some scouts see him as a future reliever rather than a rotation anchor, according to The Leaf-Chronicle. That would lower his long-term ceiling.
Tennessee's Pipeline Keeps Feeding MLB Draft Boards
Kuhns is the latest in a long line of Volunteers pitchers to hear their name called early. Four Tennessee pitchers have gone in the first round in seven years. That streak puts Tennessee among the best pitching programs in the country.
For Cardinals fans, the pick offers real upside. Kuhns has the polish and stats to profile as a mid-rotation starter. The low walk totals and high strikeout rate are exactly what modern front offices want. Whether his stuff translates to pro ball remains the big question, Knoxville News Sentinel reported.
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