Tennessee baseball standout transfer reveals secret formula for Vols' success under Tony Vitello
Tennessee infielder Gavin Kilen is having a whale of a year so far for the defending national champion Volunteers. The Louisville transfer has stepped in and started off his Tennessee career with as hot a start as you'll see. According to Kilen, who appeared as a guest on the Tony Basilio Show on Wednesday, his […]
Tennessee infielder Gavin Kilen is having a whale of a year so far for the defending national champion Volunteers. The Louisville transfer has stepped in and started off his Tennessee career with as hot a start as you'll see.
According to Kilen, who appeared as a guest on the Tony Basilio Show on Wednesday, his immediate success has had a lot to do with Tony Vitello's support staff, particularly sports nutrionist Beth Schwartz and strength and conditioning coach Quentin Eberhardt.
"It was honestly life changing, is probably the best way to put it," Kilen said. "I think so far this year it's already showing for me with as much success as I've had. My first day here, I weighed in, we had our DEXA scanning for our first day., I was 174 when I got here, and then my latest DEXA I was 188. And then I'm sitting around 190, 192 right now after breakfast and when I have meals in me and stuff.
"So, I think me getting to work with Beth was huge because it forced me to get my eating habits really well, and the weight program of Q is phenomenal. It helped me really put on a lot of good muscle mass. I've put on almost 20 pounds, and I owe all that success to those two and pushing me as much as they have."
For those wondering, Kilen leads the Volunteers with seven home runs on the season, which is also tied for sixth-most nationally. Kilen has posted a stat line of a .511 batting average with a 1.200 slugging percentage (both top 10 nationally) and 19 RBIs.
The power surge has gone through Tennessee's entire roster this season as well. The Vols lead all division I schools with 38 home runs through 13 games. I say as well, but it's a repeat of what Tennessee has done in recent years. The Vols led the NCAA in home runs by a wide margin during last year's 60-win national championship march.
Tennessee undoubtedly has top-end talent. That was obvious both on the field and in the draft last July, where eight Vols were selected. But it's the contributions and work being put in with their support staff behind the scenes that's making a big difference for the players. That's apparent on the scales and in the box scores.
It's also been obvious where Tennessee fans care the most: on the scoreboard.
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