Tony Vitello: Dad volunteered to play first base amid ongoing competition

Tennessee baseball kicked off its 2025 campaign this past weekend with three straight dominant victories over Hofstra. However, only days before Tennessee’s season opener, there were still questions surrounding the program’s starting lineup.

Specifically, fans were unsure who was going to be the Volunteers’ starting first baseman. They weren’t the only ones. Ahead of Tennessee’s triple-header against Hofstra, Vols head coach Tony Vitello revealed he still didn’t know who was going to start at first base while also sharing a hilarious anecdote.

“I’m not sure who that’ll be, to be honest with you,” Vitello said. “My dad volunteered to be that guy the other day because I forget what family problem that, not a big one, but something to solve. They were talking about and I said, ‘I’m too busy. I’m trying to figure out who’s going to play first base and a bunch of other positions too.’

“Part of that is we have a little more inner internal depth or internal competition, I think those are more hand in hand than I originally thought we did with the position player stuff. And I think a part of that is a credit to the way some of these freshmen came back from the winter. There’s a couple that came back with a completely different vibe, in a good way, and there’s a couple that came back where they look like they did their work.

“The winter is a time where you can really get a little more physical in a short amount of time. And there’s a few guys that I think have created, I don’t want to say problems, but more discussions or debates up in the office.”

Junior Andrew Fischer was ultimately the Volunteers’ starting first baseman on Opening Day. Fischer transferred to Tennessee this offseason after spending the 2024 campaign at Ole Miss.

Fischer appeared in 55 games for the Rebels as a sophomore, starting in each of them (43 at third base, 12 at designated hitter). For his efforts, he was named an All-SEC Second Team selection as a designated hitter/utility player.

Fischer led the Rebels in hits (59), RBIs (57), triples (2), home runs (20) and total bases (133) last season. Evidently, Tony Vitello has liked what he’s seen from the accomplished hitter in the infield, as well.

In Tennessee’s three wins, Fischer recorded 10 putouts on 13 chances while only committing one error. In the batter’s box, Fischer only had one hit but it was a home run. He was also walked five times throughout the three-game series.

Up next, Andrew Fischer and the Volunteers will square off against UNC Asheville on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.