Kavares Tears Stats & Scouting Report

AB	410
AVG	.227
OBP	.320
SLG	.385
HR	13

Full name William Kavares Tears
Born 08/25/2002 in Columbia, TN
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Tennessee
Drafted in the 4C round (134th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2024 (signed for $525,200).

View Draft Report

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.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: After logging just 56 at-bats in his redshirt freshman season, Tears was a key piece of Tennessee’s 2024 national championship team and hit .324/.427/.643 with 16 doubles, 20 home runs and 62 RBIs across 71 games. He was a steady riser throughout last year’s draft cycle and the Padres drafted him in the fourth round. Tears signed for the full slot value of $525,200 but did not make his pro debut.

Scouting Report: Tears is a strong, physical outfielder who stands tall in the box with a high handset and open front side. He has a noticeable leg lift and barrel tip in his load, and has no shortage of bat speed. Tears has a power-over-hit profile and when he makes contact he can generate high-quality impact. Last year at Tennessee, Tears posted a maximum exit velocity of 114.5 mph and showed the ability to drive the baseball to all fields. That came with plenty of swing-and-miss, though, and he posted an overall contact rate of just 70%. Tears’ Achilles heel is spin and there was plenty of miss and chase against secondary offerings. He’ll need to make enough contact to get to his above-average power in-game. Tears is an above-average runner once underway and has the arm strength to handle right field.

The Future: Tears should spend the bulk of 2025 with Low-A Lake Elsinore. He needs to answer significant hit tool questions, but he has middle-of-the-order upside as a power-oriented corner outfielder if it all clicks.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60.

Draft Prospects

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.

Career Transactions

OF Kavares Tears assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
OF Kavares Tears assigned to ACL Padres.
San Diego Padres signed OF Kavares Tears.
OF Kavares Tears assigned to Tennessee Volunteers.

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