Evan Blanco selected by Athletics in 13th round

Evan Blanco was selected by the Oakland Athletics with the No. 381 overall pick in Round 13 of the 2026 MLB Draft, Rocky Top Insider reported on July 12, 2026. Blanco spent a single season at Tennessee after transferring from Virginia and worked primarily as a weekend rotation starter for the Vols.

What happened

The Athletics used their 13th-round selection (No. 381) on right-handed starter Evan Blanco. The pick was first reported by Rocky Top Insider on July 12, 2026, and confirms Major League Baseball clubs were interested in Blanco following his season at Tennessee. At the time of the report, the club and player had not announced a signing or contract figure.

Evan Blanco’s season at Tennessee

Blanco joined the Vols for the 2026 season after transferring from Virginia. Tennessee slotted him into the weekend rotation, a deployment that usually indicates a team trusts a pitcher to face top-line opponents and handle heavier innings workloads. That role helped showcase Blanco against Southeastern Conference competition and put him on pro scouts’ radars.

During his lone season with Tennessee, Blanco was used in traditional starting patterns inside the weekend rotation — meaning he was frequently lined up to face opponents in the highest-leverage weekend matchups. That consistent role allowed evaluators to study sequence work, pitch mix and endurance across multiple starts in a competitive environment.

Coaching staff and scouting attention around his outings led to Blanco drawing mid-round draft interest, culminating in the Athletics taking him with their 13th-round pick. The selection validates the pathway that transfers can offer both for programs looking to reload and for players seeking new opportunities and exposure.

Why the pick matters for Tennessee

For Tennessee baseball, Blanco’s selection is another example of the program producing players who attract professional attention, even when a player is with the program for only one season. That recognition helps the Vols on several fronts: it highlights the staff’s ability to identify and develop transfer talent, it boosts the program’s profile among recruits who want a path to pro baseball, and it underscores the depth of pitching options the program is cultivating.

Practically, Blanco’s departure will create a vacancy in the weekend rotation that Tennessee must address for the next season. That could mean increased innings and responsibility for returning starters, consideration of incoming freshmen or transfers, or adjustments in spring rotation planning. While the program routinely adapts to turnover — especially after the draft — each drafted arm requires a reexamination of roles and depth charts.

From a perception standpoint, mid-round picks such as Blanco help maintain the Vols’ reputation as a destination where pitchers can develop and be seen by pro evaluators. That narrative can be valuable in recruiting conversations and in retaining momentum with current roster construction.

What comes next

As reported by Rocky Top Insider on July 12, 2026, Blanco’s signing status with the Athletics had not been confirmed. There was no public announcement of a contract or signing bonus in the initial report, so his professional status should be considered pending until the Athletics or Blanco’s camp confirms terms.

Typically, mid- to late-round draftees and MLB clubs finalize agreements in the days and weeks after the draft. Fans tracking Blanco’s status should watch for statements from the Athletics, updates from Rocky Top Insider or other verified outlets, and any communication from Blanco’s representatives. If a signing is announced, Tennessee will officially lose that weekend rotation arm to the pro ranks; if a signing does not materialize, the player’s collegiate options will depend on eligibility rules and any decisions made by the player and advisors.

Quick recap: the pick is official as of the report, the signing remains unconfirmed, and the Vols must plan for roster adjustments in light of the selection.

Source and quick details

Source: Rocky Top Insider — published 2026-07-12. Read the original report at: https://www.rockytopinsider.com/2026/07/12/tennessee-baseball-starting-pitcher-evan-blanco-selected-in-the-2026-mlb-draft/

• Player: Evan Blanco
• Drafting team: Oakland Athletics
• Round: 13th
• Pick: No. 381
• College: Tennessee (transferred from Virginia)

Vols fans should expect roster evaluations and spring planning to reflect this selection. Coaching staff will monitor signing developments and begin internal planning to ensure weekend rotation stability heading into the next season.