Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello joined Hot Stove on the MLB Network earlier this week to discuss the growth of Tennessee’s baseball program, the development of right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander and how Vol fans have created one of the most unique atmospheres in all of college baseball at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Here’s what all Vitello had to say.
“I feel like it’s the most loyal fanbase in the country.”@Vol_Baseball Head Coach Tony Vitello speaks on the school’s crazy fans, @DollanderChase‘s journey transferring in to becoming a top draft prospect and building the program up in what is now his sixth season. pic.twitter.com/7hh6rVVpnd
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 13, 2022
Vitello has had a busy offseason coming off a historic campaign for the Vols. Tennessee won a program-record 57 games, the SEC regular-season title, the SEC Tournament and was the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament despite coming up one game short of a return trip to Omaha for the College World Series.
The Vols saw 10 players off the historic team drafted following the season and had to replace all eight starters in the field, as well as key arms on the mound. Vitello and his staff did so by hitting the transfer portal hard right after the season. Despite a small transfer class, it’s considered one of the best in the country.
In addition to Kansas transfer shortstop Maui Ahuna, who Baseball America considers the fourth-best transfer this cycle, Tennessee added Alabama third baseman Zane Denton, Cincinnati outfielder Griffin Merritt and Charlotte transfer Andrew Lindsey. Merritt is considered the 11th-best transfer, while Denton is the 19th-best, respectively.
Tennessee concluded its fall baseball season in November with its annual Orange & White World Series. The Vols also played two 18-inning scrimmages this fall and won both. They hosted Wake Forest at Lindsey Nelson Stadium before traveling to Jackson, Tennessee to face Memphis.
Vitello and the Vols will open up the 2023 season on Feb. 17 when it participates in the MLB4 Tournament in Scottsdale, Arizona. The MLB4 field consists of the Vols, Arizona, Fresno State, Michigan and San Diego. Tennessee’s opponents have not yet been decided, but it’ll play a game on Friday, Saturday (Feb. 18) and Sunday (Feb. 19) of that weekend.
Tennessee’s first two home games will be on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22 when it hosts Alabama A&M for a pair of midweek games. It’ll then host Dayton that weekend (Feb. 24-26) for its first three-game home series of the season. The Vols will be in the midst of playing 15 consecutive home games leading into SEC play beginning on March 17 with a trip to Missouri.
During the nonconference schedule, Tennessee will also host Gonzaga (March 3-5) and Morehead State (March 10-12) for a three-game series. The most notable midweek game will be against Boston College on Tuesday, March 7. In addition to Alabama A&M and Boston College, the Vols will also play midweek games against Charleston Southern for two games (Feb. 28, March 1), Lipscomb (March 14), Western Carolina (March 21), UNC Asheville (March 28), Eastern Kentucky (April 11), Tennessee Tech (April 18), Bellarmine (April 25), Wofford (May 2), Austin Peay (May 9) and Belmont (May 16).
Tennessee will play Texas A&M, Florida, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Kentucky at home during SEC play. It’ll travel to Missouri, LSU, Arkansas, Georgia and South Carolina.