Tennessee HC Tony Vitello offers strong take on the future of college baseball
The end of of Tennessee Vols' College World Series run on Tuesday night didn't dampen UT head coach Tony Vitello's enthusiasm for the future of the sport. Instead, Vitello is leaving Omaha feeling good about the future of college baseball. Vitello told reporters after Tennessee's 5-0 loss to LSU on Tuesday that he feels like […]
The end of of Tennessee Vols' College World Series run on Tuesday night didn't dampen UT head coach Tony Vitello's enthusiasm for the future of the sport.
Instead, Vitello is leaving Omaha feeling good about the future of college baseball.
Vitello told reporters after Tennessee's 5-0 loss to LSU on Tuesday that he feels like college baseball has more momentum than any other college sport.
"I think our sport, I’m prejudice, but I think our sport more than any other collegiate sport has more momentum and is on a greater incline than any other," said Vitello. "And this thing (the College World Series) here has become an absolute party in Omaha. They do a good job hosting it."
"But the trajectory is not going to slow down," added Vitello. "And this thing had a lot of star power. Maybe more star power than any other one at this."
"Star power" is subjective, but Vitello still might be correct about this College World Series having the most star power ever.
The latest mock draft from The Athletic's Keith Law has six players that were in this year's College World Series going in the top 10 of the 2023 MLB Draft (that includes Vols right handed pitcher Chase Dollander).
I don't think there's any doubt that college baseball is on an upward trajectory. And NIL deals should ensure that the upward trajectory of the sport continues (we might see more players enroll in college out of high school instead of signing with an MLB team after getting drafted).
Love them or hate them, Vitello and the Vols have certainly played a part in college baseball's rise in popularity over the last couple of years.
Tennessee Vols: Tony Vitello praises Josh Heupel at the expense of Peyton Manning
Tennessee Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello is a big fan of legendary UT quarterback Peyton Manning. I mean, who isn't? Vitello's fandom of Peyton, however, didn't stop him from praising current Vols head coach Josh Heupel on Saturday at the expense of Manning. Heupel threw out the first pitch before Tennessee's matchup against the Missouri […]
Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
