Tony Vitello discusses challenge of keeping players engaged on the bench

Tennessee baseball is heading into the final strech of the regular season, which is sometimes the toughest stretch for those riding the bench.

It’s easy to go through the motions when you’re not allowed an opportunity on the field, but Vols head coach Tony Vitello is asking for patience from his dugout as the season winds down.

“It’s hard. And if I were to compliment our staff with that answer it’d be, ask us what you think’s going on,” Vitello said after the 19-1 Bellarmine win. “I think what makes it even more difficult is if you are sitting there stewing and trying to wonder what the coaching staff thinks of you or what their plan is, and a lot of times the answers are much more simple than maybe you create in your head.

“It shouldn’t be a challenge to get better every day, because if you really enjoy doing this, then you’re going to be eager to do that. But to get better, to be ready for your chance, and to sit and be patient at times — that’s a real challenge.”

What Vitello doesn’t want his players to start doing is playing guessing games with the coaching staff. The Tennessee coaches want to paint as clear a picture as they can regarding their vision for a player during the recruiting trail and after they get on campus — but he wants every single one of his players to know that everything he does for them is for a reason.

Out of the 19 players that have logged at-bats for Tennessee this season, five of them have appeared in less than 20 of the Vols 41 games played this season. Four of those have started in less than 10 of their apperances as well.

“They know that we want to use guys,” Vitello said. “We don’t like when guys only have so many at-bats or they’re sitting there in the dugout and they’re only a cheerleader. So, I think that helps incentivize them a little bit, too, and makes them stay ready.”

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Next up for the Vols is a homestand against Mississippi State in a three-game series beginning on Thursday. After that, the Vols have three more conference series before the 2023 SEC Tournament begins in Hoover, Alabama.