Tony Vitello, fresh off winning Tennessee baseball’s first-ever national championship,arrived in style for the 2024 MLB draft on Sunday night.
Vitello, who joined MLB Network’s crew to preview the potential No. 1 overall picks, was given a fur coat by the broadcast team for his interview.
Of course, the coat is a reference to the Vols’ viral home run celebration, which was created by former Tennessee catcher Evan Russell in 2022.
REQUIRED READING:Why Tennessee baseball added a fur coat to its daddy hat for home run celebration
“The home run coat happened a few years ago,” Vitello said on the broadcast. “Blake Burke really is the one who made sure it stayed, so I’m hoping this is a night Blake Burke will forever remember. I’ve got a lot of memories with him that’s for sure. But I don’t remember hitting any home runs, so the only time I’d wear this coat is to maybe attend a party.”
Vitello is coming off his seventh season at the helm, in which Tennessee set a plethora of records. The No. 1-ranked Vols became the first SEC team to ever win 60 games in a season, while also becoming the first team since 1999 to win the national championship as the NCAA tournament’s top overall seed. Tennessee also won its first baseball national championship ever.
The Vols have multiple players hoping to or expected to hear their names called on Sunday night, including infielders Christian Moore and Billy Amick. Drew Beam, Blake Burke and Kavares Tears could all possibly also be selected on Sunday night, which includes the first two rounds of the MLB draft.
