Kavares Tears

School: Tennessee
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.9
BA Grade: 50/Extreme
Tools: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 60.

Tears is a big, muscular 6-foot, 200-pound outfielder who has put together back-to-back strong seasons with Tennessee as a redshirt sophomore. After homering just twice in 29 games in 2023, Tears homered 20 times in 71 games in 2024 with a .324/.427/.643 slash line. He employs a high handset and level bat path from the left side of the box and generates huge top-end exit velocity numbers, though that hard contact comes with plenty of swing and miss. His career 25.6% strikeout rate and 68% overall contact rate point to a below-average hit tool, which means continuing to get to his impressive raw power in games with a wood bat will be key to his offensive profile. Tears showed a slightly improved approach in 2024 compared to 2023 and his walk rate climbed from 10.6% to 15.4% because of it, but the evaluations of his pure hitting ability continue to vary widely in the industry. Tears has the arm strength to play right field and should fit in either corner outfield position in pro ball. While he takes a few strides to get going, he’s a strong runner underway though not much of a base stealer at the moment.