How former Vols performed in MLB debuts from Tony Vitello era

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How former Vols performed in MLB debuts from Tony Vitello era

Dan Harralson, Vols Wire · Vols Wire

Fri, Jun 5, 2026 ·

3 min read

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Former Tennessee pitcher Chad Dallas made his Major League Baseball debut on Thursday with the Blue Jays. Toronto (30-33) defeated the Braves (42-21), 7-2, at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. 30,598 were in attendance.

Dallas (1-0) pitched 3.2 innings in relief and earned his first win. He recorded two strikeouts and 68 pitches, including 38 strikes, against 15 batters. The former Vol allowed two hits, one run (one earned) and two walks.

Dallas played at Tennessee from 2020-21 under head coach Tony Vitello after transferring from Panola College in Carthage, Texas. He appeared in 21 games, including 21 starts, for the Vols and had a 14-2 record. Dallas was selected in the fourth round of 2021 MLB draft by Toronto.

He is the 13th former Vol who played for Vitello to make a MLB debut: Garrett Crochet (2020), Chase Silseth (2022), Ben Joyce (2023), Andre Lipcius (2023), Trey Lipscomb (2024), Jordan Beck (2024), Seth Halvorsen (2024), Chase Dollander (2025), Blade Tidwell (2025), Christian Moore (2025), Chase Burns (2025), Drew Gilbert (2025) and Dallas (2026).

Below are how former Vols fared, who played for Vitello at Tennessee, in their MLB debuts.

How former Tony Vitello era Vols performed in MLB debuts

Garrett Crochet

Crochet debuted for the White Sox on Sept. 18, 2020 at Cincinnati . He pitched one inning in relief and recorded two strikeouts. Crochet totaled 13 pitches, including nine strikes, against three batters. He did not allow a hit, run or walk against the Reds. Cincinnati defeated Chicago , 7-1.

Chase Silseth

Silseth was the second former Vol to play for Vitello to debut in MLB. His debut was with the Angels on May 13, 2022 at Oakland. He started and pitched six innings, earning a win, in the Angels', 2-0, victory. Silseth totaled four strikeouts and 81 pitches (52 strikes) against 20 batters. The former Vol allowed one hit, two walks and zero runs. He was the first player from the 2021 draft to debut in MLB.

Ben Joyce

Joyce also debuted with the Angels. His first MLB appearance was on May 29, 2023 at the White Sox. Joyce pitched one inning in relief and earned a hold in Los Angeles ', 6-4, win. He totaled two strikeouts and 12 pitches (10 strikes) against four batters, while allowing one hit.

Andre Lipcius

Lipcius debuted with Detroit on Sept. 1, 2023 at the White Sox. He served as a pinch-hitter for the Tigers in seventh inning. The former Vol went 0-for-2, including one strikeout, and played third base. Detroit defeated Chicago, 4-2.

Trey Lipscomb

Lipscomb debuted with the Nationals on March 30, 2024 at Cincinnati. He started at third base in Washington's, 7-6, win. Lipscomb went 1-for-4 and hit a single in his first at-bat. He totaled one stolen base and one strikeout in his debut.

Jordan Beck

Beck made his MLB debut April 30, 2024 with Colorado at Miami . He started in left field and went 2-for-4, hitting a single in his first MLB at-bat. The Marlins defeated Colorado, 7-6, in ten innings.

Seth Halvorsen

Halvorsen also debuted for the Rockies in 2024. He faced one batter (one pitch) in the ninth inning against Baltimore , forcing Gunnar Henderson into a groundout to third base. The Orioles won at Colorado, 5-3, on Aug. 30, 2024.

Chase Dollander

Dollander debuted for Colorado on April 6 versus the Athletics , earning a win, during the 2025 season. He started and pitched five innings, recording six strikeouts. Dollander totaled 79 pitches, including 49 strikes, against 22 batters in the Rockies', 12-5, home win. The former Vol allowed seven hits, four earned runs and one walk.

Blade Tidwell

Tidwell started for the Mets and pitched 3.2 innings at St. Louis on May 4 in the 2025 season. He recorded two strikeouts and allowed nine hits, six runs (six earned) and three walks. The former Vol totaled 82 pitches, including 48 strikes, against 23 batters. 14 of Tidwell's strikes were on a first pitch. He also totaled 15 called strikes, seven swinging strikes, nine strikes from foul balls and 16 in-play strikes against the Cardinals. St. Louis defeated New York, 6-5.

Christian Moore

Moore made his MLB debut on June 13, 2025 for the Angels in a, 2-0, loss against Baltimore at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. He started at second base and hit in Los Angeles' ninth spot in the batting order. Moore went 0-for-3, including one strikeout.

Chase Burns

Burns debuted in MLB on June 24, 2025 with Cincinnati in a, 5-4, 11-inning game against the Yankees at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He started and pitched five innings, recording eight strikeouts. Burns totaled 81 pitches, including 53 strikes, against 21 batters. He struck out five consecutive batters to start the game and totaled six strikeouts against the first seven batters. 13 of Burns' strikes were on a first pitch, 12 strikes were called, 12 strikes were swinging, 16 strikes were from foul balls and 11 were in play strikes.

Drew Gilbert

Gilbert made his MLB debut on Aug. 8, 2025 with San Francisco . He started in right field against the Nationals at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California. Gilbert went 0-for-4 and made a diving catch for an out in the third inning.

Chad Dallas

Dallas made his MLB debut on June 4, 2026, national cheese day, with Toronto against the Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. He pitched 3.2 innings in relief and earned his first win. Dallas recorded two strikeouts and 68 pitches (38 strikes) against 15 batters. He allowed two hits, one run (one earned) and two walks.