‘It’s mixed emotions’ – Former Tennessee Vols OF Drew Gilbert will play for Tony Vitello with the San Francisco Giants
Former Tennessee Vols outfielder Drew Gilbert will be reunited with former UT baseball coach Tony Vitello with the San Francisco Giants
Former Tennessee Vols outfielder Drew Gilbert is set to be reunited with former UT baseball coach Tony Vitello in the Bay Area.
Vitello was officially hired by the San Francisco Giants on Thursday to serve as the franchise’s new manager.
Gilbert, who played for Vitello at Tennessee from 2020 to 2022, was traded from the New York Mets to the Giants late last summer. Former Vols RHP Blade Tidwell also went from the Mets to the Giants in that trade.
The former Tennessee outfielder made his big league debut with the Giants after the trade, and he quickly brought some life to the dugout.
Drew Gilbert comments on Tennessee losing Tony Vitello
Gilbert is obviously excited to play for Vitello again. Some have even suggested that Gilbert is the reason that Vitello went to the Giants was on the table.
The former Vol, however, understands that Vitello’s leaving Knoxville for San Francisco is a huge loss for Tennessee.
“What that tells you is the impact he’s had at Tennessee and why he was even wanted for a job like this,” said Gilbert to The Athletic of Vols fans trying to convince Vitello this week to stay at UT. “You don’t have people showing up to a scrimmage and chanting your name if you haven’t done something special there. Tennessee fans are special. They’re the best. I was fortunate enough to play in front of them for three of the best years of my life. But I’m also really excited for Coach to be in front of Giants fans. We know they’re hungry to win, and we all feel we have something to prove next year. So I’m excited for him to get the opportunity, and I get to do it along with him as well.”
“I can’t really imagine what he’s going through right now,” added Gilbert. “Tennessee is a special place, and he kind of built that from dirt. So I’m assuming it wasn’t the easiest thing for him to depart from a situation like that no matter how good the job is. It’s mixed emotions, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t super, super excited to get this thing going. I feel I could get rolling now.”
ESPN confirmed that Vitello considered staying at Tennessee while he was negotiating this week with the Giants. But ultimately, an opportunity to manage in the big leagues was too much to turn down.
It’ll certainly be weird seeing a Vitello-less dugout in Lindsey Nelson Stadium next spring. But it’s hard not to be excited for Vitello and the chance he’s getting to manage an MLB team.
Tennessee Volunteers News
‘It would’ve been like the wild, wild west’ – Ed Orgeron predicts what would’ve happened had Lane Kiffin stayed at Tennessee
Former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron served as the Tennessee Vols’ defensive line coach in 2009
