Report: Tennessee baseball's Tony Vitello will participate in MLB Draft coverage

Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello will be part of the MLB Network’s 2022 MLB Draft coverage on Sunday as the opening rounds start at 7 p.m. ET, according to Knox News. The Vols leader will be an analyst breaking down the top prospects, which he’s very familiar with as one of the top coaches in the nation.

The head coach in his fifth year joins MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger, Scott Braun, Lauren Gardner, Dan O’Dowd and Harold Reynolds. UCLA coach John Savage is also part of the coverage. The crew will discuss each of the 80 draft picks selected on Sunday night.

MLB experts predict several of Vitello’s guys could hear their name called on night one. Outfielders Jordan Beck and Drew Gilbert lead the draft crop for the Vols. Pitchers Ben Joyce and Blade Tidwell have also received high draft grades. Third baseman Trey Lipscomb and second baseman Jorel Ortega could go as well during the three-day draft.

Tennessee has a chance to break their record for draft picks selected this year. The program record, set in 1992, is eight Vols drafted. That occurred during a 50-round draft. This year’s draft is 20 rounds.

Vitello, Vols end season early in Knoxville Regional

Vitello earned Perfect Game/Rawlings Coach of the Year this year and the 2022 SEC Coach of the Year award. He helped lead the Volunteers to a No. 1 overall seed in the 2022 NCAA Tournament after putting together a strong year. Tennessee finished with a 57-9 overall record this season, including a 25-5 record in SEC play. Through his five seasons as head coach, the Volunteers are 191–77.

The Vols saw their season come to a stunning end with a 7-3 loss to Notre Dame in the Knoxville Super Regional. It was the Volunteers’ first home series loss of the season, and it knocked them out of the College World Series field.