MURFREESBORO - The Kansas City Royals selected Murfreesboro-native Drew Beam in the third round with the 76th pick of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft on Monday.

The right-handed pitcher spent the past three seasons at the University of Tennessee, finishing his career with the Vols with a record of 26-8 over 52 appearances (51 starts) and a career 3.60 ERA from 2022 to 2024.

Beam was a fundamental piece in the Vols’ rotation and pitched nine total innings with 14 strikeouts, seven hits, and four walks in his two starts in Omaha, capturing the program’s first national title this past season.

The junior was named a Third Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, a First Team All-Region player by the American Baseball Coaches Association, and the 2024 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for his performances this past season.

Before attending UT-Knoxville, Beam was a star two-sport athlete at Blackman High School, playing quarterback for the football team in addition to his time on the mound. He earned 2019 First Team All-Area honors and 2019 Class AAA District 7 Pitcher of the Year before missing his junior and senior seasons due to COVID and injury, respectively.

Beam was the fifth Volunteer to come off the board in this year’s draft following Christian Moore (8th overall by the Angels), Blake Burke (34th overall by the Brewers), Billy Amick (60th overall by the Twins), and Dylan Dreiling (65th overall by the Rangers).

Beam joins a group of local talent who've made it all the way to the big leagues. Fellow Blackman alum David Price spent many years on the mound playing for five different teams before retiring in 2020. Smyrna's Sonny Gray is currently a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and has been on the roster of four other teams.