‘Maybe it’s an SEC thing’ – Former Tennessee standout Drew Gilbert was thrown at in an MLB game by a former Florida pitcher
Former Tennessee Vols outfielder Drew Gilbert was part of a very strange moment on Tuesday night in San Francisco.
Former Tennessee Vols outfielder Drew Gilbert was part of a strange moment on Tuesday night in San Francisco.
Gilbert was the leadoff hitter for the Giants on Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds.
The first pitch from Reds RHP Brady Singer was a sinker that went behind Gilbert. The next pitch was also a sinker and it hit Gilbert in the leg.
It looked like Singer was throwing at Gilbert on purpose, but no one knows why.
Singer is a former Florida Gators pitcher, but he was out of the SEC by the time Gilbert was at Tennessee. So I don’t think this was some old college beef, and I don’t think Singer is passionate enough about the Gators that he’s throwing at a former Vol — though Giants manager Tony Vitello, however, did joke after the game that “maybe it’s an SEC thing.”
Vitello added that there was some “hooting and hollering” at Gilbert after a groundout from the former Vol.
Earlier this year, when the two teams played in Cincinnati, then-Giants pitcher Erik Miller screamed at Reds infielder Sal Stewart, which led to a small altercation. So these two teams have some history.
Singer also hit Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, so maybe his control was just terrible in the first inning.
Vitello’s comments, though, suggest there was something to Gilbert getting hit, it’s just that no one knows what exactly it was. And Singer doesn’t seem interested in making it clear to anyone.
