With the No. 13 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the San Francisco Giants selected Gavin Kilen. Here are a few things to know about the newest member of the Giants organization:
Midwest Roots, Two Stops on Rocky Top
A native of Milton, Wisconsin, Kilen first made headlines as a smooth-fielding prep shortstop who could handle the bat from the left side. He was drafted back in 2022 by the Boston Red Sox straight out of Milton High School but stuck to his commitment to the University of Louisville instead. There, he spent two seasons sharpening his craft in the ACC, showing off the same steady glove and advanced approach that got him noticed in the first place. In 2025, Kilen made the jump to the SEC, transferring to the University of Tennessee for his junior year — a move that only boosted his stock. As the Volunteers’ everyday shortstop, he anchored the middle infield for one of the nation’s deepest rosters, handling the grind of SEC play with the same calm and clean fundamentals he’s shown since high school.
A Contact-First Lefty Bat
Offensively, Kilen is exactly the kind of hitter college coaches trust at the top of a lineup. His left-handed swing is short, simple, and geared for line drives to all fields. In his lone season at Tennessee, he hit .357 with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs across 53 games — putting together tough at-bats, fouling off pitchers’ best stuff, and showing the mature plate discipline that had many scouts touting him as one of the best hitters in the country. While he’s not a big power threat, Kilen’s value comes in how rarely he gives an at-bat away. He stays inside the baseball, handles velocity, and doesn’t chase much — all signs that he can keep moving up the ladder as arms get tougher.
A Defender Who Makes It Look Easy
Where Kilen really separates himself is with the glove. He’s not flashy for the sake of it — he’s smooth because he’s efficient. His footwork, hands, and internal clock have earned praise from coaches at both Louisville and Tennessee. He reads hops, stays balanced, and makes the tough plays look routine — the kind of traits that keep him on the dirt for good. Some scouts project him sticking at shortstop in pro ball, although some concerns about his arm strength have others thinking he should slide to second base. Either way, the reliability is the selling point. You know what you’re getting every inning, every game.
Patience and Poise Pay Off
The fact that Kilen turned down pro ball once before says plenty about him. He could have jumped right out of high school, but he chose development over a quick paycheck — then doubled down by betting on himself again when he switched programs for a shot at the SEC grind. Three years later, that path has paid off with a draft-day payoff and the chance to carry his steady, team-first style to the next level. For a player like Kilen, the extra reps, the pressure games, the long road — they all point to the same thing: he’s ready for what comes next.
Grounded in the Midwest, Tested in the Best
Those who know him say Kilen’s the same quiet leader now that he was as a freshman at Louisville — the type who puts his head down and works, wins trust with consistency, and lets his game do the talking. At Tennessee, teammates leaned on him to settle the infield and spark the lineup when games got tight — and more often than not, he delivered. It’s not hard to see why fans will get behind him. He’s the guy who makes the tough plays when they matter, keeps rallies alive with a two-strike single, and plays the game with just enough edge to keep opponents honest.
Bottom Line
Gavin Kilen won’t light up a radar gun or swing out of his shoes — and that’s exactly why so many coaches have trusted him to anchor the infield. He’s steady, he’s smart, and he’s all baseball — a contact bat, smooth glove, and no-nonsense approach that’s earned respect in two of the toughest college conferences in the country. If you’re looking for a player you’ll rarely have to worry about, the shortstop from Wisconsin might just become your favorite reason to keep watching the box score.
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