Latest news with #TonyVitello
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Drew Gilbert records first career MLB hit with Giants
San Francisco (59-60) opened a three-game series Monday versus San Diego (67-52). The Padres won the series opener, 4-1, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California. Former Vol Drew Gilbert started in right field for the Giants. He went 1-for-3 and recorded his first career Major League Baseball hit with a single to left field in the third inning. Gilbert made his MLB debut on Aug. 8. He played at Tennessee from 2020-22 and won a SEC regular season and tournament championship in 2022. He is the 12th former Vol to play for head coach Tony Vitello at Tennessee to reach MLB, joining Garrett Crochet, Chase Silseth, Ben Joyce, Andre Lipcius, Trey Lipscomb, Jordan Beck, Seth Halvorsen, Chase Dollander, Blade Tidwell, Christian Moore and Chase Burns. Gilbert was selected by Houston in the first round (No. 28 overall) of the 2022 MLB draft. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Former Vol records first career MLB hit
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Drew Gilbert makes MLB debut with Giants
San Francisco (59-57) opened a three-game series against Washington (45-70) on Friday at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California. The Giants won the series opener, 5-0. Former Vol Drew Gilbert made his Major League Baseball debut for the Giants. He started in right field and went 0-for-4. Gilbert also made a diving catch for an out in the third inning. He is the 12th former Vol to play for head coach Tony Vitello at Tennessee to reach MLB, joining Garrett Crochet, Chase Silseth, Ben Joyce, Andre Lipcius, Trey Lipscomb, Jordan Beck, Seth Halvorsen, Chase Dollander, Blade Tidwell, Christian Moore and Chase Burns. Gilbert was selected by Houston in the first-round (No. 28 overall) of the 2022 MLB draft. He appeared in 58 games during his final season at Tennessee in 2022, totaling 11 home runs, 70 RBIs, 60 runs, 72 hits, 21 doubles, four triples, 33 walks and four stolen bases. More: Final 2022 records for each SEC baseball team Game No. 2 between the Giants and Nationals is slated for 4:05 p.m. EDT on Saturday. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Former Vol Drew Gilbert makes MLB debut with San Francisco
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tony Vitello discusses Chase Burns' pitching career ahead of MLB Speedway Classic
Cincinnati (58-53) and Atlanta (46-63) will conclude a three-game series Saturday. Saturday's series finale will be contested at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. First pitch between the Braves and Reds is slated for 7:15 p.m. EDT and the National League contest will be televised by Fox. Former Tennessee pitcher Chase Burns (0-3) is projected to start for Cincinnati in the MLB Speedway Classic. He played for the Vols from 2022-23 before transferring to Wake Forest in 2024. Tennessee won the 2022 SEC Tournament and regular-season championship, and advanced to the 2023 College World Series. Burns was selected No. 2 overall in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft by the Reds. Ahead of Saturday's matchup at Bristol Motor Speedway, Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello appeared on MLB Network in Bristol and discussed his former pitcher. Vitello was asked what he thought of Burns when he saw him for the first time and what he thinks about him now in MLB. "It was actually just playing catch, and I saw his dad is extremely physical, so at the time he was a real lean skinny kid, but you had a hunch he was going to get more physical," Vitello said. "Just playing catch, an incredibly elastic arm with a lot of range of motion. You envision velocity, but it came in triple digits. It was also a deal where the right-handed slider against right-handed hitters was incredibly dominant. "We've talked off the side, I think there are a lot of people who like to pick at him because he's burst on the scene so quickly. The bottom line is, he's always been good, and he's good right now. It should make for a good matchup tomorrow." More: MLB Speedway Classic to feature starting pitchers with Knoxville ties More: Chase Burns pitches shutout in return to Knoxville Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tony Vitello discusses Chase Burns ahead of 2025 MLB Speedway Classic
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gavin Kilen selected by Giants in first round of 2025 MLB draft
The 2025 Major League Baseball draft is taking place at Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta, Georgia. The first three rounds are slated for Sunday, while rounds 4-20 are scheduled for Monday. Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello is serving as a MLB draft guest analyst for rounds 1-3 on MLB Network. Tennessee infielder Gavin Kilen was selected by the Giants in the first round (No. 13 overall). He played one season for the Vols after transferring from Louisville. Kilen appeared in 53 games, including 52 starts, for the Vols in 2025. He recorded a .357 batting average, 75 hits, 15 home runs, 13 doubles, four triples, 46 RBIs, 60 runs, 30 walks, six stolen bases and was hit by three pitches in 210 at bats. Kilen also totaled a .963 fielding percentage, recording 52 putouts, 78 assists and five errors. More: Tennessee Vols 2025 MLB draft tracker 11 former Vols who played for Vitello at Tennessee have reached MLB: Garrett Crochet, Chase Silseth, Ben Joyce, Andre Lipcius, Trey Lipscomb, Jordan Beck, Seth Halvorsen, Chase Dollander, Blade Tidwell and Christian Moore. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee infielder Gavin Kilen selected by Giants in MLB draft
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Boston selects Marcus Phillips in 2025 MLB draft
The 2025 Major League Baseball draft is taking place at Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta, Georgia. The first three rounds are slated for Sunday, while rounds 4-20 are scheduled for Monday. Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello is serving as a MLB draft guest analyst for rounds 1-3 on MLB Network. Tennessee pitcher Marcus Phillips was selected by the Red Sox with the No. 33 overall pick. He appeared in 36 games, including 19 starts, for the Vols from 2024-25. Phillips (4-5) recorded 120 strikeouts, three saves and a 4.11 ERA in 103 innings. He won a national championship, SEC Tournament title and SEC regular-season championship in 2024 at Tennessee. Phillips was named SEC Pitcher of the Week on March 17. 11 former Vols who played for Vitello at Tennessee have reached MLB: Garrett Crochet, Chase Silseth, Ben Joyce, Andre Lipcius, Trey Lipscomb, Jordan Beck, Seth Halvorsen, Chase Dollander, Blade Tidwell and Christian Moore.
