Sportsvival continues its look at the top names heading toward the 2026 MLB Draft, and one arm who has pushed himself into the national conversation is Tennessee right-hander Tegan Kuhns. The 6-foot-3 power arm from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania has the size, fastball, command, and SEC production that MLB teams love. Kuhns is not just a thrower, he is a pitcher who has shown he can attack the zone, miss bats, and handle big moments against elite college competition.
Background
Tegan Kuhns came to Tennessee after a dominant high school career at Gettysburg Area High School in Pennsylvania. He was one of the top prep arms in the country in the 2024 class and built a reputation as a strikeout pitcher with big arm talent.
After arriving at Tennessee, Kuhns continued to develop and became one of the most important arms on the Volunteers’ staff. In 2026, he took a major step forward, making 15 appearances with 14 starts and earning Second Team All-SEC honors. He finished the season 5-5 with a 3.56 ERA, 81 innings pitched, 106 strikeouts, and only 16 walks. That kind of strikeout-to-walk ratio in the SEC is exactly why MLB scouts are paying close attention.
Measurements
Position: RHP
School: Tennessee
Class: Sophomore
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 193 pounds
Bats/Throws: Switch/Right
Hometown: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
High School: Gettysburg Area High School
Tools and Pitch Mix
Kuhns is built around a fastball that can reach the upper 90s and plays even better because of the way it comes out of his hand. The pitch has life, carry, and gives hitters a tough look, especially when he works it up in the zone.
His secondary mix gives him a chance to remain a starter at the next level. Kuhns shows a curveball, slider, cutter, and changeup. The breaking ball flashes swing-and-miss potential, while the cutter gives him another hard option to keep hitters off the fastball. The changeup is still developing, but it gives him a pitch that can help him handle left-handed hitters as he moves into pro baseball.
Strengths
The fastball is the first thing that jumps out. Kuhns has real velocity, but what makes the pitch dangerous is how it plays. Hitters do not seem to pick it up cleanly, and when he is commanding it at the top of the zone, he can dominate.
His command is another major strength. Power arms sometimes come with control concerns, but Kuhns showed the ability to throw strikes and limit free passes. Striking out 106 hitters while walking only 16 in the SEC is a big-time number.
Kuhns also showed he can rise in big games. His 15-strikeout performance against Texas was one of the best outings by any college pitcher in 2026. That kind of start showed the upside scouts dream on.
Areas for Improvement
The biggest area for Kuhns is continuing to sharpen the secondary pitches. The fastball is already a major weapon, but the breaking ball, cutter, and changeup need to become more consistent if he is going to reach his ceiling as a starter.
He also needs to prove he can hold his stuff deep into starts. The delivery, command, and fastball are all strong pieces, but pro hitters will force him to keep making adjustments. If the off-speed pitches take the next step, his draft stock could continue to rise.
Draft Outlook
Sportsvival sees Tegan Kuhns as a late first-round to early second-round type of arm with a chance to go higher if a team believes in the full starter package. College pitchers with his size, fastball, strikeout numbers, command, and SEC background do not usually last long.
The floor is attractive because he throws strikes with power stuff. The ceiling is even more interesting because if the secondary pitches fully come around, Kuhns has the traits to develop into a major league starter.
MLB Comparison
Sportsvival MLB Comparison: Bryan Woo
This is not saying Kuhns is the same pitcher today, but the comparison makes sense because of the fastball traits. Like Woo, Kuhns has a fastball that plays better than just the radar-gun reading. It jumps on hitters, misses bats, and gives him a true foundation pitch.
Kuhns still needs to continue building the rest of the arsenal, but the ingredients are there. If the slider, curveball, cutter, and changeup become more reliable, he has the chance to become a mid-rotation starter with strikeout upside. If the secondary stuff does not fully develop, the fastball and strike-throwing ability could still make him a powerful bullpen weapon.
Final Thoughts
Tegan Kuhns is one of the more exciting college arms in the 2026 MLB Draft class. He has the frame, fastball, SEC experience, strikeout ability, and command that teams look for when betting on a pitcher.
Sportsvival believes Kuhns is more than just a safe college arm. He has real upside. The fastball already gives him a strong foundation, and if the rest of the pitch mix continues to improve, Tegan Kuhns could become one of the better pitching picks in this draft.