Liam Doyle set a new standard for Tennessee baseball in the MLB Draft under Tony Vitello.
The Vols pitcher was selected No. 5 overall on July 13 by the St. Louis Cardinals, making him the highest-draft player in Vitello’s tenure and the second highest-drafted pitcher in program history.
Doyle was 10-4 with a 3.20 ERA and was named the SEC pitcher of the year. He struck out a program-record 164 batters in 95⅔ innings, while walking only 32.
Doyle is the seventh first-rounder under Vitello. UT has had a first-round pick in four straight drafts and a top-10 pick in three straight drafts. Christian Moore was picked No. 8 in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels, the previous high mark under Vitello.
He is the third first-round pitcher in the past six seasons at Tennessee, joining Chase Dollander (No. 9 to Colorado in 2023) and Garrett Crochet (No. 11 to the Chicago White Sox in 2020). Only Luke Hochevar, the No. 1 pick in 2006, was drafted earlier than Doyle.
Liam Doyle set Tennessee baseball strikeout record in big 2025
Doyle overpowered lineups throughout the 2025 season with his unicorn fastball. He took over the Friday night starter role as soon as he arrived on campus and dominated.
He broke Hochevar’s strikeout record of 154 when he entered in relief to earn the save in Tennessee’s regional title-clinching win against Wake Forest on June 2. He struck out 10 or more in eight starts.
The Ole Miss transfer struck out 14 in a career-best 8⅓ innings on April 11 against his former team. Doyle allowed two runs on three hits with two walks.
Doyle was named a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, two national player of the year awards. He was the first Vol since Chris Burke in 2001 to be named a finalist for both awards.
Liam Doyle started his career at Coastal Carolina, Ole Miss
Doyle finished his college career with a 16-9 record and a 4.13 ERA. He struck out 317 in 207 innings.
He was 6-5 with a 4.93 ERA in his first two seasons before transferring to Tennessee. He struck out 153 with 41 walks in 111⅓ innings at Coastal Carolina in 2023 and Ole Miss in 2024.
The Derry, New Hampshire, native was 3-4 with a 5.73 ERA with the Rebels. He struck out 84 in 55 innings with 22 walks in 16 games with 11 starts.
He was 3-1 with a 4.15 ERA with 69 strikeouts and 20 walks in 56⅓ innings pitched at Coastal Carolina. He started seven games in 23 appearances with the Chanticleers.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.