Drew Beam makes it official with Royals, signs professional contract

Former Tennessee right-handed ace Drew Beam is now officially a Kansas City Royal after coming to terms on a contract agreement Sunday afternoon.

According to MLB Pipeline senior writer Jim Callis , the pitcher signed for $1,097,500 after being selected with the No. 76 overall pick in the third round of the 2024 Major league Baseball Draft last week. Beam was the first pitcher drafted this cycle for the Vols and the fifth of eight overall, following a national championship this past June in Omaha.

The slot value for where Beam was selected in the draft at No. 76 overall was slated for $1,027,700. This means the righty signed for $69,800 over the slot value, a figure that was slotted between the values for the Reds’ No. 71 overall ($1,110,600) and Tigers’ No. 72 overall ($1,093,600) of the Competitive Balance round B of the second round.

Beam was a staple of the pitching staff over his three seasons on Rocky Top, combining to go 26-8 over 51 starts (52 appearances) from 2022-24 with a career ERA of 3.60. The righty made every weekend start for the Vols this past season, contributing a 9-2 record over 102.1 innings pitched. Saving his best for last, the righty tossed nine innings of two-run baseball with 14 strikeouts to four walks in two starts in Omaha as the Vols captured their first ever national title this past season.

The junior was named a Third Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association for the 2024 campaign and was a Second-Team All-American by the same publication in 2022. As a freshman that year, Beam reeled in four Freshman All-American accolades and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year.

Beam became the 21st pitcher drafted from Tennessee while Tony Vitello has been head coach. Later in the draft, fellow Tennessee hurlers AJ Causey (Royals) and Aaron Combs (White Sox) were also selected.

Speaking of Causey, the sidewinder has also inked his first professional contract with Kansas City as well – this according to the official player development account for the organization.

The Major League Baseball Draft was once again kind to Tennessee as the Volunteers received a strong showing with eight total draft picks and six commits or signees selected over the course of the three-day event.

Tennessee’s eight draft picks tied for second-most in program history and were two shy of the program-record of 10 set in 2022. The Vols led the country with four selections on day one Sunday night and with a total of eight by the end of day two on Monday.

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