What Tony Vitello said about Christian Moore breaking Tennessee Baseball's home run record
It’s not just what Christian Moore is doing during his record-setting home run tear for Tennessee Baseball this season. It’s how he’s doing it. And it’s where he’s doing it from.
“Doing it from the leadoff spot is kind of unique,” Tennessee coach Tony Vitello said after his No. 1-ranked Vols beat South Carolina 9-3 Thursday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Moore led off the bottom of the first inning with his 25th home run of the season, breaking a program record that had been held for 26 years. He added his second home run in the third inning, his 26th of the season.
Moore tied Sonny Cortez, who held the previous record for single-season home runs with 24 in 1998, on Tuesday in the win over Belmont.
“Since he’s been a freshman, too, he’s done it in important situations,” Vitello said. “When the competitiveness is about as high as it can get or the fire is burning about as hot as you can imagine.
“There’s a lot of different things you can throw in and it’s a long conversation we could have, but it will be a really fun one when the season is over and when his career is over.”
Christian Moore this season: .384 batting average, .806 slugging percentage, 26 HR, 59 RBI
The time for those conversations is not now, not with two games left in the regular season and an SEC championship on the line, before No. 1 Tennessee turns its attention to the postseason.
Moore leads the Vols with a .384 batting average and .806 slugging percentage. He has 59 RBI and 61 runs scored to go with his 26 home runs. And he’s done it all as the bat that gets the most attention from opposing pitchers.
“I think that’s a big thing for pitchers and hitters,” Vitello said, “because there’s so much information and people scheme and game plan for you and things like that. You have to be able to counter-adjust.
“And I don’t want to say like a counter move, because it’s not chess we’re playing here. But you have to be able to cover your blind spots, and I don’t think you can do that in one day or one sit down or one video session.”
Up Next: No. 1 Tennessee vs. South Carolina, Friday, 6:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network+
Vitello during his postgame press conference Thursday mentioned how fun it was to watch former Tennessee star Jordan Beck hit his first career home run with the Colorado Rockies. And to watch Trey Lipscomb with the Washington Nationals face Garrett Crochet with the Chicago White Sox.
He knows Moore will be in similar situations in the not-too-distant future.
“Those will be ongoing conversations for a while and they will be really fun,” Vitello said. “I think CMO will be a centerpiece for those (conversations).”
