Boston Red Sox star pitcher Garrett Crochet has high praise for San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello.
Vitello is set to become the first person to go from college to being an MLB manager as the Giants hired him this offseason. Although Vitello was a college coach, Crochet, who played under Vitello at Tennessee in college, expects him to have plenty of success in the big leagues.
“To make a jump like that is no small feat,” Crochet said, via MLB.com. “And I think that he's got the personality and the drive, and I feel like he's a very natural leader and a trustworthy guy. So I think that he's got what it takes to win over a big league clubhouse without even necessarily trying to.”
Although college baseball and the MLB are very different, Crochet believes Vitello’s personality will help him succeed with pro athletes.
“I think the biggest difference is that, in college, you recruit these guys, so even before they step foot on campus, they're already kind of looking to you as that leader, and almost like a father figure in a way,” Crochet said.
“In pro ball, you don’t call anyone ‘coach,’ but in college you do. So it’s like that sort of thing. But I think that V is very genuine and authentic, and the passion is very, very easy to see with him, and I think that’s really all it takes.”
Crochet and the Red Sox will get a chance to go up against the Giants and Vitello on Aug. 21-23 when San Francisco travels to Boston.
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