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Tony Vitello, Vols have plenty of confidence in Marcus Phillips ahead of regional start

On3 imageby: Eric Cain05/31/25_Cainer
Marcus Phillips. Credit: Tennessee Athletics
Marcus Phillips. Credit: Tennessee Athletics

Marcus Phillips has come a long way in a short amount of time. The junior flamethrower from Sioux Falls, S.D. was a seldom used bullpen arm for the Vols on their way to a national championship in 2024. His role has completely changed just one year later.    

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound pitcher moved into a starting role for the 2025 season. He’s made every weekend start this season and has pitched himself into being an early round selection in this summer’s MLB Draft.

So, what’s changed in such a short amount of time?

“He’s such a different kid outside of the lines, just in the dugout and in the hallways,” Tony Vitello said of Phillips after Friday’s regional win. “He’s almost kind of been like two different guys. Always a good kid, always a good worker. Obviously, always talented, but he’s just matured and kind of acts different. And I think this has really become his family and his home.”

Phillips is about to pitch in the biggest game of his career. The righty will toe the rubber for the Vols in Knoxville Regional play Saturday evening as top-seeded Tennessee takes on the three-seed Cincinnati in the winner’s bracket. A chance for the regional final on Sunday is up for grabs.   

“He just makes you comfortable when you’re around him and it makes it easier to cheer for him when he is between the lines,” Vitello continued. “And then between the lines, he’s literally gotten better in every single category. Velocity, you could break it down, and I don’t think he’s done with that incline.”

The pitcher has gotten better in every area of his game. That’s evident. Once thought of as a ‘project,’ Phillips has grown into a dependable starter behind Liam Doyle in the Tennessee rotation. He’s still raw in terms of his overall development, but the guy has a bright future and has improved miles this season with Tennessee.

A new challenge awaits in regional play.

“They’ve got a little extra stuff going on energy-wise and team camaraderie-wise in the dugout,” Vitello said of Cincinnati. “And then also, they want to do a bunch of different things on offense. So, they were able to beat, again, another outstanding team, [Wake Forest], from a phenomenal league by using exactly the brand of baseball that he’s tried to kind of stamp on any program he’s been a part.”

One thing the Bearcats do extremely well is steal bases. In fact, Cincinnati swiped 128 bases entering postseason play. That was good enough to tie for 18th in the country. UC has only been caught stealing 14 times on the year. Impressive stuff.

So, with a spot in the regional finale on the line, the Vols turn to a guy who just keeps on getting better and better. Managing the run game will be a key point of emphasis in this one, but Phillips has been better in that regard – like everything else – the past two starts as well.

Tennessee and Cincinnati will square off at 6 o’clock ET Saturday evening. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

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