Bryce Jenkins of Tennessee baseball has inked a deal with the New York Mets.
Tennessee’s right-handed pitcher, Bryce Jenkins, has officially signed with the New York Mets after being selected in the 17th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, securing the No. 516 overall pick.
According to Jim Callis, a senior writer for MLB Pipeline on MLB.com, Jenkins and the Mets settled on a signing bonus of $180,000, with $30,000 of that amount counting towards New York’s signing pool.
This marks the second consecutive draft in which the Mets have recruited a Tennessee pitcher, following the selection of Blade Tidwell in the second round of last year’s draft.
Jenkins, who attended Hardin Valley Academy in Knoxville before joining Cleveland State Community College, amassed an 11-9 record in 27 appearances (26 starts) during his tenure at Cleveland State. In 2022, he recorded a 4-3 record with a 4.45 ERA, leading the team with 93 strikeouts in 60.2 innings pitched.
Standing at 5 feet 11 inches tall, Jenkins transitioned to Tennessee after signing from Cleveland State. In his single season on Rocky Top, he posted a 1-0 record with a 5.51 ERA, striking out 24 batters in 16.1 innings while conceding 10 earned runs on 13 hits.
Under head coach Tony Vitello’s leadership since 2018, Tennessee has seen 35 players drafted, averaging slightly over seven picks per year. From 2019 to 2022, the Vols’ 26 selections ranked third among SEC teams during that timeframe. Additionally, the six pitchers drafted this year represent the highest number in school history.
