INCREDIBLE. That’s an accurate description of the pipeline that Tennessee has become for Major League Baseball.
Tony Vitello’s program at Tennessee has become an annual production machine for the pros to no surprise of the Tennessee fans that have the privilege of watching Vitello’s teams in action. Vitello & staff’s ability to identify talent and to develop that talent into next level ability is now well known as confirmed by the just ended 2024 MLB Draft.
Eight Vols were drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft including two in the first round, Christain Moore and Blake Burke. Additionally, Zander Sechrist and Cal Stark signed undrafted free agent contracts. Vitello has now produced six first round draft picks with the Vols. Tennessee leads the nation in MLB Draft picks since 2021 with thirty three. Tennessee set a program record with eight draft picks in the first ten rounds of the 2024 draft.
As good as the 2024 MLB Draft was for Tennessee, the Vols finished third in the SEC in total draft selections behind Mississippi State (11) and LSU (9). This is the second straight year that Tennessee has produced eight MLB Draft picks. The best year in program history was 2022 when Tennessee produced ten draft picks. That’s twenty six draft picks that Tony Vitello’s Tennessee program has sent to the pros over the past three seasons and forty three total draft picks during his seven seasons with the Vols.
The word is out with elite college players and high school recruits that Tennessee under Vitello is one of the very best options in college baseball to develop your skills and get a shot at the big leagues.
Plus the guy is just fun to play for. Just watch his interactions with his players and listen to the players comments about Vitello. Vitello is just hitting his stride on Rocky Top and it’s going to be fun watching his team continue to be successful and produce many more future MLB Draft picks.
