Former Tennessee coach Tony Vitello got his revenge against Chase Burns after some blunt comments that were made earlier this season
There’s no love lost between Tony Vitello and former Volunteers RHP Chase Burns.
Former Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello, who is in his first season as the manager of the San Francisco Giants, exacted some revenge against former Vols RHP Chase Burns on Monday night in San Francisco.
The Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0. All five of the Giants’ runs were scored off Burns, who lasted just 3.2 innings in what was his worst start of the year (Burns has been terrific all season).
Former Vols outfielder Drew Gilbert, who was teammates with Burns at Tennessee, hit two doubles off Burns.
“It is what it is I’m not gonna dwell on it,” said Burns after the rough start. “Tonight wasn’t my best night. But I’ll bounce back.”
Why was Tony Vitello looking for revenge against Chase Burns?
Burns, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, spent the first two seasons of his career playing for Vitello at Tennessee before transferring to Wake Forest.
The Tennessee native left Knoxville after he was moved to the bullpen during his sophomore season.
Back in April, Burns threw six shutout innings against the Giants (the Reds’ bullpen, however, couldn’t finish the job and San Francisco won the game 3-0).
After the game in April, Burns was asked by a reporter if he had caught up with Vitello that week.
Burns quickly made it clear that he doesn’t talk to Vitello.
“No, I don’t talk to him,” said Burns when asked if he spoke to Vitello during the series in April. “I have some guys over there, though. Q, the strength coach (former Vols baseball strength coach Quentin Eberhardt), I chatted it up with him. That’s about it.”
“No thoughts to that really,” added Burns when asked if it was nice to pitch well against Vitello’s team. “It doesn’t really matter, just go out there and do my job.”
Vitello never made a big deal about any of the drama with Burns this season, but I’m sure it felt good watching his team have a big night against the Cy Young contender.
Gilbert, by the way, said after the game that he has “good memories” from his time with Burns at Tennessee, so this really was just a Vitello vs Burns thing.
