There’s been some uneasiness on Rocky Top over the last week thanks to Tennessee Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello’s name being connected to a couple of managerial jobs in MLB.
The Athletic recently listed Vitello as a potential candidate for both the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves managerial positions.
Vitello responded to the MLB talk last weekend, but he didn’t exactly shut anything down.
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“It will eventually get to you,” said Vitello to the Knoxville News Sentinel’s Mike Wilson. “You hear it and it’s flattering. Basically, it is a compliment to our support staff and our players….That is what I consider it — a compliment.”
The Athletic reported late Tuesday that former MLB catcher Nick Hundley is considered the front runner for the Giants job.
Hundley, who played college baseball at Arizona, spent two seasons with the Giants during his 12-year big league career.
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“Though there is still time in the process for another candidate to emerge, it’s becoming a widely held expectation the job is Hundley’s, if he is ready to accept it,” wrote Andrew Baggarly.
It’s unclear if Hundley will accept the job, but it sounds like he’s at the top of the list for the Giants.
And that’s certainly good news for Vols fans.
It’s always been unlikely that Vitello will leave Tennessee for MLB. Hiring a college coach with zero big league experience (as a player or as a coach) would be an unprecedented move for an MLB franchise.
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Ultimately, I think the Giants are the team with the best chance to lure Vitello away from Tennessee — due to his relationship with President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey.
You never say never, but if the Giants hire Hundley, I think Tennessee fans will be able to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
