With Tennessee baseball coming off another powerhouse season, head coach Tony Vitello isn’t shying away from the challenges of building a championship-caliber roster—especially with the looming shadow of the 2025 MLB Draft.
Speaking recently about roster construction, Vitello emphasized the delicate balance between recruiting high school talent, retaining top performers, and anticipating early departures to the pros.
> “You want to develop guys for Omaha, but also prepare them for Major League Baseball,” Vitello said. “The draft can change your team overnight, so you’ve got to plan for multiple outcomes.”
The Vols are expected to lose several top players to the 2025 draft, and Vitello is already navigating those waters, focusing on bringing in versatile recruits who can fill immediate needs while growing into key roles. He’s also leaning into the transfer portal to bolster depth and experience.
Vitello praised his staff for their ability to adapt and called the Vols’ current roster “one of the deepest we’ve had.”
As Tennessee gears up for another title run, Vitello’s calculated approach shows why the program remains at the forefront of college baseball.
Roster turnover is inevitable—but in Knoxville, the plan is always to reload, not rebuild.
