'I let the emotions get the best of me a little bit' — Tony Vitello makes a candid admission during Andrew Fischer's interview after Tennessee Vols star was drafted

"We've got an unbelievable production staff, and they're super helpful to me, but I dropped the ball there. I let the emotions get the best of me a little bit there. I didn't quite know what to ask him, but very, very proud. 

"Those guys are on an incline, and a lot of these guys that have gone so far, people might say, 'should he have gone this high?' There's a common theme. All these kids, or most of them, are on an incline, and they're continually getting better." - Tony Vitello on MLB Network

To Vitello's credit, he did manage to get out one comment to Fischer at the beginning before ceding the floor to the rest of the draft analysts. 

"I'm incredibly excited. First of all, I'm looking at the wrong camera. I'm rattled. I'm looking at you, I'm ecstatic. I wish we had more time together. But you and Doyle and the others, Gavin, can come back and train on our campus for sure. I'll let these other guys ask you the critical questions." 

There's no doubt that Sunday night was a showcase for Tennessee baseball, but it's one that the program and the players have earned through their stellar play over the last few years.

And there's also no doubt just how much his players and their continued success mean to Vitello.  Beyond the high number of draft picks, that type of relationship with his players should be invaluable to his recruiting as he looks to return the Vols to Omaha in 2026.